College of Education

School of Continuing and Distance Education 2014/2015 – 2016/2017

Lecturer: Professor. R.E.V. GYAMPO, Department of Political Science, UG

Session Overview

• The session on Communitarianism delves much into communal rights as against individual rights. It discusses the features of the theory and examines its significance as well as challenges. By the end of the session, students should be able to:

• Explain the concept of communitarianism and highlight its salient features and central arguments

• Discuss the strengths and limitations of communitarianism

Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS Slide 2

Session Outline

• Explaining Communitarianism

• Stating the Central Arguments and Features of Communitarianism

• Discussing the Strength of Communitarianism

• Explaining the Weaknesses of Communitarianism

• Conclusion

• Review Questions

• References

Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS Slide 3

Reading List

• Berlin, Isaiah, Political Ideas in the Twentieth Century, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002). Chapters 4&5.

• McClelland, J.S., A History of Western Political Thought, (London: Routledge, 2002). Chapters 6&7

Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS Slide 4

Communitarianism Defined

• Communitarianism is a social and political philosophy that emphasizes the need for adherence or conformity to inherited community values and tradition in the proper functioning of social and political life.

• Communitarianism is very different from liberalism in many ways.

• Liberalism sees the liberty of the single individual, rationalism and equality as paramount.

Professor. R.E.V. GYAMPO, Dept of Political Science, UG

Slide 5

Communitarianism Defined cont’d

• Communitarianism on the other hand argues that ones social and political identity is shaped by inherited communal values and traditions and that a person must define his life within such values.

• Proponents of the communitarian theory includes but not limited to Micheal Sadel, Micheal Walzer, Charles Taylor, Hegel etc.

Professor. R.E.V GYAMPO, Dept of Political Science, UG

Slide 6

Central arguments of Communitarianism

• Communitarians reject the idea that we can develop cogent views of the good by abstract philosophical reasoning nor are they the product of individual preference.

• Communitarians argue that self cannot be considered in an unencumbered way.

Professor. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

Slide 7

Central arguments of Communitarianism

• They argue that theoretical foundations do not adequately provide the way of life. Community is the basis of practical reasoning.

• Individual freedom and autonomy can be better protected if liberal appeals to human rights are abandoned in favor of communitarian institutions.

Professor. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

Slide 8

Strengths of Communitarianism

• Communitarians challenge the excessive individualism and parochialism associated with liberalism.

• The values of communitarianism enhances the development of social capital.

• Welfare a the group is paramount in communitarianism.

Professor. R.E.V GYAMPO, Dept of Political Science Slide 9

Limitations of Communitarianism

• Seeks to strengthen community at the expense of individual freedom and autonomy.

• How can individual rights and freedoms be better protected when they are abandoned for communal values.

• Communitarianism stifles creativity and progress.

Professor. R.E.V, GYAMPO, Dept of Political Science, UG

Slide 10

Limitations of Communitarianism cont’d

• Communitarian can be counter-productive since its creates the environment for “free-ridership”.

• Does not provide safe guards for unqualified majoritarianism.

Professor. R.E.V, GYAMPO, Dept of Political Science, UG

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Conclusion

• Communitarianism is a political philosophy that emphasizes the need for adherence or conformity to inherited community values and tradition in the proper functioning of social and political life.

• Unlike liberalism, communitarianism argues that ones social and political identity is shaped by inherited communal values and traditions and that a person must define his life within such values

Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS Slide 12

Review Questions

• How different is Communitarianism from Liberalism?

• What are the criticisms of Communitarianism?

• In what ways do Communitarianism promote and undermine individual liberties?

Dr. Richard Boateng, UGBS Slide 13

References

• Berlin, Isaiah, Political Ideas in the Twentieth Century, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002).

• McClelland, J.S., A History of Western Political Thought, (London: Routhledge, 2002).

• Iain, Mclean, Oxford Concise Dictionary of Politics,(New York: Oxford University Press, 1996).

• Heckathorn, Douglas D. "The Limits of Communitarianism." (1994): 14-19.

Professor. R.E.V. GYAMPO Dept of Political Science, UG

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