8/29/2008

The Globalization of American Government

Globalization is the increasing interdependence of citizens and the nations across the world. Every government must consider the international ramifications of a countrys military, economic and social policies. Politics is the authoritative allocation of values for a society.
Chapter One

Freedom, Order, or Equality?

The Globalization of American Government (Contd)

Diplomacy today is based upon the principle of national sovereignty, a political entitys externally recognized right to exercise final authority over its affairs; each governments right to govern its people as it wishes, without interference from other nations. Increasing globalization has brought a human rights emphasis to international politics.

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 Nations

The Conceptual Framework for Analyzing Government

Three concepts for determining the fundamental issues or values of what government tries to do and how it decides to do it are order, freedom and equality. The two models of democratic government used to evaluate the governmental process are the majoritarian and pluralist models.

8/29/2008

The Concepts of Freedom, Order, and Equality

Freedom is used in two major senses: Freedom of: the absence of constraints on behavior - freedom to do something (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 of preserving life and protecting property. Social Order refers to the established patterns of authority in society and to traditional modes of behavior.

CWW 1.1: Compared With What? - The Importance of 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 person has the same chance to succeed in life Equality of outcome: Government must design policies that redistribute wealth and status so that economic and 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 of Government

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.

8/29/2008

Ideology and the Scope of Government

Most Government Political Theories
Totalitarianism Liberalism Libertarianism Anarchism

Ideology and the Scope of Government (Contd)

Least Government

Economic Theories
Socialism Capitalism Laissez Fair

Popular Political Labels in America

Liberal Conservative

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.

Figure 1.1:

Ideology and the Scope of Government (Contd)

Socialism is a theory of government that believes the scope of government extends to ownership or control of the basic industries that produce goods and services. Socialism allows for more private ownership of productive capacity than Communism.

Ideology and the Scope of Government (Contd)

Capitalism is an ideology that supports free enterprise and private business operating without government regulation. Communism involves a theory that gives ownership 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 except what is necessary to protect life and property. Anarchism is an ideology that opposes all government, in any form and values freedom above all else.

American Political Ideologies and the Purpose of Government

Liberals are an ideology that believes in government helping the disadvantaged and support government spending on social programs. Conservatives are an ideology that believes in private enterprise but not government job programs, regulation of business or legislation of working conditions and rates.

8/29/2008

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 use coercive power to support equality Want smaller government budgets and fewer government programs Oppose government activism but support government control of sexually explicit material Want government coercive power to maintain social order

Ideologies: A Two-Dimensional Framework

Equality

Liberals Favor: Government activities that promote equality, such as affirmative action programs to employ minorities and increased spending on public housing. Oppose: Government actions that restrict individual liberties, such as banning sexually explicit movies or mandatory testing for AIDS. Libertarians Oppose: Government activities that interfere with the market, such as affirmative action programs to employ minorities and increased spending on public housing. Oppose: Government actions that restrict individual liberties, such as banning sexually explicit movies or mandatory testing for AIDS. Freedom

Communitarians Favor: Government activities that promote equality, such as affirmative action programs to employ minorities and increased spending on public housing. Favor: Government actions that restrict individual liberties, such as banning sexually explicit movies or mandatory testing for AIDS. Libertarians Oppose: Government activities that interfere with the market, such as affirmative action programs to employ minorities and increased spending on public housing. Favor: Government actions that restrict individual liberties, such as banning sexually explicit movies or mandatory testing for AIDS. Order

The Mo der n D ie mm a l
Freedom

The Original Dilemma

American Political Ideologies and the Purpose of Government

Communitarians are an ideology that believes government should be used to promote moral values and to help the disadvantaged. They favor government that promotes order and equality.

Freedom, Order, or Equality?

Chapter One