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Chapter One

Freedom, Order,

or Equality?

The Globalization of American

Government

Globalization is the increasing

interdependence of citizens and thenations across the world. Everygovernment must consider theinternational ramifications of a countrysmilitary, economic and social policies.

Politics is the authoritative allocation ofvalues for a society.

The Globalization of AmericanGovernment (Contd)

Diplomacy today is based upon theprinciple ofnational sovereignty, apolitical entitys externally recognized right

to exercise final authority over its affairs;each governments right to govern itspeople as it wishes, without interference

from other nations.

Increasing globalization has brought a

human rights emphasis to internationalpolitics.

Purposes of Government

Government exists to control or to govern

The three major purposes of

governments are:

Maintaining Order, or establishing the

rule of law to preserve life and property

Providing Public Goods, and

Promoting Equality

PCW 1.1: Politics in a Changing World:

The Globalization of NationsThe Conceptual Framework forAnalyzing Government

Three concepts for determining thefundamental issues or values of whatgovernment tries to do and how it decides

to do it are order, freedom and equality.

The two models of democraticgovernment used to evaluate thegovernmental process are themajoritarian and pluralist models.

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The Concepts of Freedom, Order,and Equality

Freedom is used in two major senses:

Freedom of: the absence of

constraints on behavior - freedom to dosomething (liberty)

Freedom from: immunity from fear and

want; the fight against exploitation and

oppression.

The Concepts of Freedom, Order,

and Equality (Contd)

Order is viewed in the narrow sense ofpreserving life and protecting property.

Social Order refers to the establishedpatterns of authority in society and to

traditional modes of behavior.

CWW 1.1: Compared With What? - The Importanceof Order and Freedom in Other Nations

The Concepts of Freedom, Order,and Equality (Contd)

Equality is used in two different senses,to support different causes:

Equality of opportunity: Each personhas the same chance to succeed in life

Equality of outcome: Governmentmust design policies that redistributewealth and status so that economicand social equality are actually

achieved

Two Dilemmas of Government

The original dilemma of government

involves freedom versus order.

The modern dilemma of government

involves freedom versus equality.

Ideology and the Scope ofGovernment

People hold different opinions about the

merits of government policies.

Ideology is defined as a consistent set of

values and beliefs about the proper

purpose and scope of government.

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Ideology and the Scope ofGovernment

Figure 1.1:

Popular Political Labels in America

L ib er al Con se rv at ive

Least

Government

Most

Government

Political Theories

To ta li ta ri an is m L ib er al is m L ib er ta ri an is m A na rc hi sm

Economic Theories

S ocial ism Capitalism Laissez Fair

Ideology and the Scope of

Government (Contd)

Totalitarianism is the belief that

government should have unlimited power

and control all sectors of society and

individual behavior, such as in business,labor, education, sports and the arts.

Ideology and the Scope ofGovernment (Contd)

Socialism is a theory of government thatbelieves the scope of government

extends to ownership or control of the

basic industries that produce goods andservices. Socialism allows for more

private ownership of productive capacity

than Communism.

Ideology and the Scope ofGovernment (Contd)

Capitalism is an ideology that supports

free enterprise and private business

operating without government regulation.

Communism involves a theory that givesownership of all land and productive

facilities to the people; the government

(the state).

Ideology and the Scope of

Government (Contd)

Libertarianism is an ideology that

opposes all government action exceptwhat is necessary to protect life and

property.

Anarchism is an ideology that opposes

all government, in any form and valuesfreedom above all else.

American Political Ideologies andthe Purpose of Government

Liberals are an ideology that believes ingovernment helping the disadvantagedand support government spending on

social programs.

Conservatives are an ideology thatbelieves in private enterprise but notgovernment job programs, regulation ofbusiness or legislation of workingconditions and rates.

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Liberals vs. Conservatives

Want generous

government support of

social programs Support government

activism but oppose

government regulation

of abortion

Are more tolerant of

alternative lifestyles

and would usecoercive power to

support equality

Want smaller

government budgets

and fewer governmentprograms

Oppose government

activism but support

government control of

sexually explicit

material

Want governmentcoercive power to

maintain social order

Ideologies: A Two-Dimensional Framework

Liberals

Favor: Government activities

that promote equality, such asaffirmative action programs to

employ minorities and increasedspending on public housing.

Oppose: Government actions

that restrict individual liberties,such as banning sexuallyexplicit movies or mandatory

testing for AIDS.

Communitarians

Favor: Government activities

that promote equality, such asaffirmative action programs to

employ minorities and increasedspending on public housing.

Favor: Government actions that

restrict individual liberties, suchas banning sexually explicitmovies or mandatory testing for

AIDS.

Libertarians

Oppose: Government activities

that interfere with the market,such as affirmative actionprograms to employ minorities

and increased spending onpublic housing.

Oppose: Government actions

that restrict individual liberties,such as banning sexually

explicit movies or mandatorytesting for AIDS.

Libertarians

Oppose: Government activities

that interfere with the market,such as affirmative actionprograms to employ minorities

and increased spending onpublic housing.

Favor: Government actions that

restrict individual liberties, suchas banning sexually explicit

movies or mandatory testing forAIDS.

TheModernDilemma

The Original Dilemma

Freedom Order

Freedom

Equality

American Political Ideologies andthe Purpose of Government

Communitarians are an ideology thatbelieves government should be used to

promote moral values and to help the

disadvantaged. They favor governmentthat promotes order and equality.

Chapter One

Freedom, Order,

or Equality?