CHAPTER 2INDIVIDUALISM VS. COLLECTIVISM

Liberalism – review Considers individual liberty and equality of opportunity to be important Economically – liberalists argue that a free market is the best system – more efficient and generates more prosperity

A. Individualism Core belief in classic liberalism (rooted in history) and capitalism (economics) Importance of the individual within society Democracies/western democracies: usually have a foundation of individualism (but can contain collectivism as well, especially

economically)o The One instead of the many

Political freedom to inalienable human rights – fundamentally important Right winged – neo conservative thinking (political spectrum) John Locke, Adam Smith Personal autonomy: individual freedom from outside authority Self reliance: responsibility for yourself

Individualism: A value held by supporters of a political or economic system that allows the individual goals to be emphasized over the needs of a society. Capitalists and those who believe in democracy would support this value. Adam Smith’s economic ideas justify this value because they emphasize the idea that when people pursue their own goals it will benefit all of society because they work to provide the best products and services in order to make a profit. Democratic political systems are aligned with this value because people have the freedom to choose the representatives they like best

A. Principles of Individualism:

i. Rule of Law Equal under the law No one is above the law Every individual is equal before the law Everyone is subject to the laws, no arbitrary power of the individual

ii. Individual Rights and Freedoms Important feature of liberal democracies Freedom fo religion, association etc. Right to life, liberty and security of persons Ex. Right to Vote:

o Changed in history of liberal democracies as to who has this righto Age, gender, property ownership have all been factors of the right to vote in historyo Canada - women didn’t receive the right to vote until the 20th Centuryo Race restrictions: Apartheid in South Africa -1996 this ended and the black population received the right to vote

Establish laws to control any negative consequences (security of person) of individual rights such as racism and discrimination

iii. Private Property Contains 3 distinct aspects:

o Real estate – land that is owned and who owns it Debated in Canada as far as the right to own and control the land vs. The resources on it and their use Aboriginal Land claim issues – p. 75

o Other physical possessionso Intellectual property (artists, musicians, inventions etc.)

New technologies can have negative effects as people can take advantage Accessibility to intellectual property, especially online, has been highly monitored – both negative and positive

ie. Downloading music

iv. Economic Freedom Freedom to buy and sell (items and labor) to whomever, whenever, for whatever price In theory: no trade barriers, customers would not have to pay taxes on products Economic Freedom Index – rates the extent to which a country is truly a ‘free market’ (10 factors page 78)

o Canada – 10th

o Canadian government intervenes in the market – uses government regulations to promote or protect the market – especially in a recessiono Welfare State (created Great Depression – still exists today)

Economy is capitalist (individualist) Government policies will modify the market to ensure economic stability and basic standard of living EI (Unemployment Insurance Act 1940), Health Care, welfare payments etc.

o Government also imposes trade laws/restrictions and taxes

v. Self Interest and Competition Supporters of individualism: benefit economy for the greater number of people

o Adam Smith – Invisible Hand – individual self interest will guide individuals for common good (not government)o Supply and Demand will control the market place

Ensures supply Buyers demand the best product for the cheapest price possible – forces sellers to compete for the buyers

money Labor – employers will compete to hire the best people, workers compete to fill (and keep) good jobs

Opposition to Individualism – rich get richer, poor get poorer• John Gailbraith (late 1950s): wealth is increases to the highest paid while the lower incomes earners are not

increasing at the same rate• “War on Poverty” (US government initiative – several times) – fund education to help with poverty• Belief that few industrialists/capitalists abide by the true nature of competition

Ie. Name brands – do you get the best quality for the lowest price possible or do you pay more for the name???

Britain 2007 – largest gap between rich and poor in more than 40 years

Collectivism: A value held by supporters of political or economic system in which the interests of the group or the state outweigh those of the individual. There is an emphasis on equality and the welfare of all people. Communists and socialists hold this value, however democratic socialists would not be as insistent as communists are about it. Socialists support it economically because they believe in government involvement and economic intervention. Communists support it politically because they believe the communist party is the only party that would rule in the best interests of all the people.

Identity is based on group membership Needs of the group (many) are more important than the individual Aboriginal groups – emphasize thinking and acting collectively to achieve goals Hutterites Left wing on the spectrum Ex. Communism, socialism, democratic socialism – not synonymous with a dictorship (politically) but can be included in

that Classical liberalism would be opposed as it takes away from the individual Modern Liberalist thought (western democracies) may contain elements of collectivism

o Canada: liberal party, NDP; USA – Democratso Have evolved to be more left wing in their ideologies (economically) and would embrace some principles of

collectivism in order to ‘cure the ills of society’ Normally involves (reality) large amounts of government intervention

A. Principles of Collectivism

i. Economic Equality Can also mean ‘more economic equality’ Various meanings depending on the system

o Equal pay for equal worko Taxation according to income levelso Share of the wealth of the society (redistribution of the wealth)o People own means of productiono Everything is freeo No private property

Theory of complete equality of income is not possible due to the various definitions and the sheer practicality of it

Ex. Canada – progressive taxation - more you make the more taxes you pay to try to redistribute wealth and create a more ‘equitable’ society

Gandhi – everyone should have enough to meet his/her needs Marx – from each according to his ability to each according to his

need...

ii. Cooperation Based on the voluntary open membership, democratic controls by the members, and economic participation of members Act for the collective/common good/goals of the group

iii. Public Property Owned by the state/government or the community and managed according to the best interest of the group Communism – owned by the government for the common good Marx – Communist Manifesto (1848)

o Abolition of private propertyo Only workers should profit - not employerso Fairer for workers – more incentive as everyone has a vested interest in the success of the industry and benefits

equally (all succeed or all fail) Canada

o Crown Land – parks, schools, roadso Crown Corporations – CBC, Via Railo Managed in the best interest of societyo Usually essential services/industries but not always profitable so private entrepreneurs won’t take the risk to own

them

iv. Collective Interest Although individually we have goals/interests, collectivists believe that they are best met through addressing them as a

group Social movements and lobby groups – come together to press for change and reform

v. Collective Responsibility Holding the entire group responsible for the actions of the individual (or individual group) – interests of the group

supersede individual All are held accountable Can be positive (moral responsibility)

o Care for the sick, ailing, less fortunate etc.o Address social problems as a group – drinking and driving, drugs

Negative consequenceso Totalitarian state/dictatorshipso Punish those who go against the ‘group’/government/society

vi. Adherence to Collective Norms The standards or ‘rules’ that the society or group deems to be

acceptable Formal or informal Usually govern: conduct, values, or appearance Voluntary but members see them as ‘binding’ – necessary for

the best interest of the group Ex. Teachers – code of Professional Conduct; dress code policy Ex. Censorship –

o formal – government imposed to only allow certain information to the people that they deem to be in the collective interest of the society

o informal – media ‘chooses’ what information to present to people

o can be very strict and punitive in dictatorial governments