Class 5: Liberalism and Social Democracy

What does Liberalism mean?

• “Liber” = Latin word meaning “free”

• “reluctant collectivists” and “modified individualism”

• Has been the dominant ideology in Canada since WW2

  • Social Welfare and social work

Define “Reluctant Collectivists”

• People who prefer to be independent but accept working together or relying on social programs because they have to

Define “Modified Individualism”

• People who believe in personal freedom and independence but also recognize the importance of helping and supporting others in society

Liberalism (Human Nature)

• Human beings are naturally moral and rational

• Human beings want to improve themselves and will if there is equal opportunity and freedom

• Should be as much individual freedom as possible, but with some constraints

• People are both egoistic (self-interest) and altruistic (concern for others)

  • not just driven by economic greed

Liberalism (Society)

• Well-being of society is connected to the well-being of individuals

• Individuals want to satisfy individual interests but also collective interests

• Influenced by Darwinism but believe tin cooperation and higher stage of evolution

  • “survival of the fittest”

• “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”

Define “Individual Interests”

• What a person wants or needs for themselves

• EX: getting a good job for personal success

Define “Collective Interests”

• What a group or society wants or needs as a whole

• EX: Clean air and safe communities for everyone

Liberalism (Nation-State)

• State must take action to ensure that individuals can sustain themselves (i.e., normal healthy citizens)

  • what people need to live! (jobs, healthcare, etc)

• Role is to regulate social, enomic and political life — only to a degree

• Major role is to ensure “equal opportunity”

• Intervention should maximize individual welfare

Liberalism (Social Beliefs)

• Indiviualism

• If people work hard and take advantage of opportunities, they should be able to move to a higher class

• Everyone should have access to opportunities (equal freedom + liberty)

• No recognition that some have an unfair advantage

  • ex: born into a wealthy family

Liberalism (Economic Beliefs)

• Equal opportunity to compete in the marketplace for wealth, power, and prestige

  • People can succeed if they really try

• Capitalism is the best economic system but is not self-regulating

  • Cannot solve all economic problems and can be inefficient

  • Recognition that capitalism has is harmful to some (produces and perpetuates poverty and inequality)

  • Because of pragmatism and humanism, intervention into the economy is necessary

Liberalism (Political Beliefs)

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: Political control rests with elected representatives

PLURALISM: Political power is divided among competing interest groups (no one dominates)

• Government is an independent arbitrator of competing interest groups

• People should have their voices heard through interest groups

Liberalism (Social Problems)

• Creates social problems like unfairness and instability

• Individuals who fail didn’t work hard enough

• Solutions focused at changes in the person or system

• Attention is paid to the consequences of social problems, not the root

• Problems are due to technical flaws in the capitalist system and fine-tuning of the system is solution

• see “individuals” as the casualties of capitalism - not social groups or social classes

Liberalism (Social Welfare)

• Accepts inequality

• Capitalism will not solve social problems by itself

  • make sure the gap between rich and poor isn’t too big

  • earn through hard work

• Instrument to modify society so its fairer for individuals (modest changes)

  • changes within systems, not OF systems

  • improve the system, not how it works

• Social intervention would be designed to help individuals cope, adjust, and fit into society

Liberalism (Social Welfare Cont’d)

• Reactive not proactive changes

• Just meet the social minimum

• Adopts an institutional approach

• Believe in advocacy (no structural changes)

What approach to social welfare is embraced by liberalism?

Institutional

What fits best with the liberal approach to homelessness/insecure housing?

Creation of more public housing units

What is Social Democracy?

• Associated with socialism

• No Canadian national goverments have been social democratic

  • (NDP in Alberta, previous party in MB)

• Sweden has been social democractic since early 1930s

Social Democracy (Human Nature)

• Humans are social animals (cooperate with others, not just our own)

• Humans are essentially good and can reach full potential if have the right environment

• Humans have been corrupted by capitalism

Social Democracy (Society)

• Collective good is primary consideration and determines the well-being of individuals

  • helping everyone leads to a better life for each person

• Society is natural

  • live and work together in groups

Social Democracy (Nation-State)

• Active government intervention to promote collective good and play a positive role in the economy

• State should carry out public control of means of production (not own - but control)

• To emphasize co-operation and de-emphasize competition

Social Democracy (Social Beliefs and Equality)

• Social integration (equality reduces social isolation and alienation)

• Economic efficiency (talented people can’t rise to higher position if treated unequally)

• Natural rights (because of inequality, some people are born into wealth and privilege)

• Individual self-realization (inequality prevents people from reaching full potential)

Social Democracy (Social Beliefs and Freedom)

• From want, poverty, inequality, etc

• Can only come with government intervention

Social Democracy (Social Beliefs and Fellowship, Democratic participation, and Humanitarianism)

• Fellowship

  • Cooperation, not competition

• Democratic participation

  • Should extend to all areas of life - not just politics (e.g., workers should have a voice)

• Humanitarianism

  • Should be guaranteed a minimum standard of living and social distress should be eliminated

Social Democracy (Economic Values)

• Means of production would be controlled and regulated by State

• Should promote redistributive measures (i.e., progressive tax structure, full employment, and well-developed social welfare programs)

• Equitable distribution of income and benefits

Social Democracy (Political Beliefs)

• State has a positive role in society

• State should encourage democratic participation (Should extend to all areas of life - not just politics)

  • Borad participatory decision-making

Social Democracy (Social Problems)

• Stem from class conflicts (conflict theory vs. order theory)

  • those who own means of production vs. those who work for them

• Not the result of deviance or social disorganization

• Can only be resolved by reorganization of society that has caused conflicts

Social Democracy (Social Welfare)

• Is a central social value

• Strucual model

• Should further social justice and prevent problems

• Should create a more equal society

• Should protect people across the life cycle

• Should promote greater control of social services by the people (not administrators or experts)

What approach to cannabis would be embraced by social democracy?

Public control and regulation