Chapter 2 Individualism vs. Collectivism

• The values of Individualism are: Rule of Law, Individual rights and freedoms, private property, Economic Freedom, Self-Interest and Competition.
• Rule of Law: Key Principle in liberal democracies. States that every individual is equal before the law and all citizens are subject to the law.
• Individual Rights and Freedoms: Key principle of individualism; important for liberal democracies. Includes freedom of religion, association, life, liberty and security of the person.
• Private Property: Something owned by an individual including tangible and intangible things. Right to protect it is a central principle of liberalism and is seem as a natural extension of the concept of the worth of each individual.
• Economic Freedom: Freedom to buy what you want and to sell your labour, idea or product to whomever you wish.
• Self-interest: One's personal interest or advantage.
• Competition: act of competing or contending with others. Seen as an incentive for individuals or groups to work harder and more efficiently.
• The Values of Collectivism: Economic Equality, Co-operation, Public property, Collective Interest, Collective Responsibility and Adherence to collective norms.
• Economic Equality: Principle common to collectivist ideologies which can have different meaning. Government may try to foster economic equality through tax policies and by ensuring that all people earn equal wages for work of similar value.
• Co-operation: Working together to the same end; a principle emphasized by collectivist ideologies.
• Public Property: Anything not privately owned by individuals. Usually owned by the state or community and managed according to the best interests of the community.
• Collective Interest: Set of interests that members of a group have in common. Principle of collective interests states what that while individuals have individual interests, these interest are better addressed by making them a common set of interests that the group can address together.
• Collective Responsibility: Holding a whole group responsible for the actions of individuals within the group.
• Adherence to Collective Norms: Faithful observance of the norms or standards imposed on members of a group as a condition of memberships in the group
• Postmodernism: Belief that there is no, one right answer. Everyone's opinion is valid and equal. Values Skepticism.
• All ideologies have been influenced by historical traditions and overlapping 'ism'.
• Two common methods of classifying ideologies: Left-Right continuum (spectrum) and Political-Economic Grid
• Roots of Left-Right Continuum: Evolved from the French Revolution. Based on seating arrangement in the national assembly.
• What did it mean if individuals sat on the left side of the King?

  They wanted change and revolution.
• What did it mean if individuals sat on the right side of the King?

  Wanted no change. Status Quo.
• Following the French revolution the left and right came to represent attitudes about change and the status quo.
• Those who demanded change - radical and liberals were on the left of the king.
• In the center were the moderates who generally supported the status quo and minor change.
• On the right of the king, conservatives favoring maintaining status quo
• Reactionaries were found on the extreme right and called for a return to the ways of the past.
• What is the Left-Right Continuum?

  Radicals, Liberals, Moderates, Conservatives, Reactionaries
• What did the radicals believe (19th century)?

  Favoured Far-reaching changes.
• What did the Liberals believe (19th century)?

  Favoured some changes
• What did the moderates believe (19th century)?

  Favoured some minor changes
• What did the conservatives believe (19th century)?

  Favoured maintaining the status quo
• What did the Reactionaries believe (19th century)?

  AKA counter revolutionaries. Favoured returning to the way things were done it the past.
• Classical liberalism: freedom. No government interference. Government was to protect life, liberty and property. Emphasizes economic freedom and role of industrialist.
• What gap was between classical and modern liberalism?

  Industrial revolution, Great Depression, Wealth Gap of nations creating economic instability, Rise of alternative ideologies such as communism and fascism.
• Modern liberalism: Significant government intervention. All individuals valued equally. Emphasizes programs to help the disadvantaged (social programs), Promotes ideas to share the benefits of development.
• What did the radicals believe (20th century)?

  Favoured immediate and fundamental social change; extreme radicals favour change through violence.
• What did the Liberals believe (20th century)?

  Favour change through peaceful and legal means; through government policy.
• What did the moderates believe (20th century)?

  Favour gradual changes
• What did the Conservatives believe (20th century)?

  Usually content with status quo and maintaining existing traditions and social order.
• What did the reactionaries believe (20th century)?

  Favour a return to the good old days; extreme favour change through violence
• What does Neo-Conservative mean?

  New or modern day conservatives. Neo - new but similar to the classical ideals