THE VIABILITY OF LIBERALISM
Now that we have looked at the key ideas relating to liberalism (and those philosophies that reject liberalism), we will now take a deeper look at the promotion of liberalism. We live in a modern liberal society - and yet can we always say that we act according to those principals? Can we have individual freedom while also protecting society during a crisis? Is if fair to expect other societies that don't have our Enlightenment influences to readily accept or even really understand what it means to live in a liberal democracy? These are some of the questions we will be exploring in this unit.
Now that we have looked at the key ideas relating to liberalism (and those philosophies that reject liberalism), we will now take a deeper look at the promotion of liberalism. We live in a modern liberal society - and yet can we always say that we act according to those principals? Can we have individual freedom while also protecting society during a crisis? Is if fair to expect other societies that don't have our Enlightenment influences to readily accept or even really understand what it means to live in a liberal democracy? These are some of the questions we will be exploring in this unit.
Key Questions
Collective rights versus the common good.
Individual rights versus the common good.
Consequences of imposing liberalism on various societies.
Challenges of accepting or rejecting liberalism in the modern world.
Collective rights versus the common good.
Individual rights versus the common good.
Consequences of imposing liberalism on various societies.
Challenges of accepting or rejecting liberalism in the modern world.
LESSON ONE - HUMAN RIGHTS IN CANADA
HOW DID LIBERALISM EVOLVE IN TERMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS?
1a Video Link (Rights)
1b Video Link (collective rights)
Some other resources:
- A discussion of human rights (watch for the bias)
LESSON TWO - DISSENT IN A LIBERAL SOCIETY
TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD WE OBEY THE AUTHORITY OF OUR GOVERNMENTS?
DOES DISSENT ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE IDEAS OF LIBERALISM?
WHEN DOES DISSENT GO TOO FAR?
2nd Video Link (Dissent)
Some other resources:
- Good summary video of the key ideas of Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech
- While China is not a liberal nation, the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 were an attempt to make the country more liberal. This article looks at how the government has been able to make it irrelevant to the Chinese
- Good summary video of the key ideas of Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech
- While China is not a liberal nation, the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 were an attempt to make the country more liberal. This article looks at how the government has been able to make it irrelevant to the Chinese
LESSON THREE - THE IMPOSITION OF LIBERALISM
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF PROJECTING YOUR IDEOLOGY ON OTHER NATIONS?
IF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES DOMINATE, WILL THE WORLD BE A BETTER PLACE?
CAN THE 2 SYSTEMS CO-EXIST (CAN WE AGREE TO DISAGREE)?
Some other resources
- An article on the role of women in Afghanistan
- Great article looking at the difficulty of establishing liberalism in Pakistan
- An article on the role of women in Afghanistan
- Great article looking at the difficulty of establishing liberalism in Pakistan
- Another class YouTube video going through the key ideas
LESSON FOUR - ILLIBERALISM
HAS CANADA ALWAYS EXEMPLIFIED THE IDEALS OF LIBERALISM?
HOW CAN CANADA MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL CANADIANS? HOW DO THESE ISSUES REFLECT OUR LIBERAL VALUES?
DO COLLECTIVE RIGHTS FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLES AND FRANCOPHONES VIOLATE THE IDEALS OF INDIVIDUALISM?
HOW DO WE PROTECT OURSELVES, AND OUR LIBERAL PRINCIPALS WITHOUT BECOMING ILLIBERAL?
DURING A CRISIS HOW SHOULD THE INDIVIDUAL ACT? HOW SHOULD THE COLLECTIVE (GOVERNMENT) ACT?
Some other resources:
ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES
Movies
Movies
- In the Name of the Father - a great movie looking at the how rule of law can be violated (based on the true story of a man imprisoned for a bombing committed by the Irish Republican Army in Britain).
- Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? - this movie may be somewhat dated now that Bin Laden was found, but it's a fun look at how the imposition of liberalism doesn't always work out the way it's planned.
- V for Vendetta - this is an adaptation of the book 1984 and demonstrates how governments try to justify illiberal actions.
- Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools - while the author was somewhat discredited, both of these books still have an important message on how to spread liberal ideals without using violence - a great read!
- The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns - you might have been required to read The Kite Runner in English class, but did you also read the follow up book? (I actually preferred A Thousand Splendid Suns as it does a really great job describing what it is like to be a woman in Afghanistan)
- The Help is a great book that gives various perspectives of a time in US history where illiberalism was justified by the majority.
- Elizabeth and Hazel is a great book that looks at two women who became icons during the Civil Rights Movement and how a photograph of them changed their lives.
- The Hunger Games series - okay, this is not highbrow reading, but it does a great job of demonstrating what a government will do to maintain power by manipulating a crisis. Those familiar with Roman history will see references to the actions of that empire.
Textbook Questions
Social 30-1
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- Social 30-2 notes on the evolution of human rights in Canada
- Social 30-2 notes on collective rights in Canada
- Social 30-2 notes on dissent
- Social 30-2 notes on the imposition of liberalism
- Social 30-2 notes on illiberalism