those dreaded isms democracyauthoritarianismtotalitarianism
TRANSCRIPT
THOSE DREADED ISMSTHOSE DREADED ISMSDEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY
AUTHORITARIANISMAUTHORITARIANISM
TOTALITARIANISMTOTALITARIANISM
NATIONAL IDEOLOGIESNATIONAL IDEOLOGIES
• Ideology: A system of beliefs/ideas that involve the basic ideas, goals, and characteristics of a nation state.
• These give insight into a nation’s values, its “personality”, and the relationship between the ruler(s) and the ruled.
• If one of the following labels--Democracy, Authoritarianism, and Totalitarianism--is applied correctly to a nation state, it can generally provide some clear insights into the nature of that state and enable one to reasonably predict its behavior in a given situation.
Why a nation state?
• Mankind’s instinct to organize, to seek stability, order, and security so he can pursue “the good life” without interference from others.
• And, to have government take on those things he can’t do alone.
• Remember--that in both Anarchy and Fascism, polar opposites on the political spectrum, there is no freedom at all.
Remembering the spectrum…
• If the prevailing perception of a nation’s founders is that man is inherently “good”, then the government will be more democratic.
• If the perception is that man is inherently “bad”, then the government will be less democratic.
DEMOCRACY
• A system in which the people, directly or indirectly, participate in all the decisions that affect their political, social, and economic lives.
• Also, from a historical perspective, a new idea.
• Freedom House http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=363&year=2011
Characteristics:
• Maintains the belief that man is good.
• The State serves the individual.
• Stresses Cooperation and Compromise among competing power groups.
• No need for excessive force to rule people.• Majority Rules/Protection for Minority
views.• Government of, by, and for the People.• Humans are Free to pursue the “good life”.• Change is permanent--Dynamic societies.• Multi-Party System (Variety and Flexibility)
• Demands high degree of citizen involvement and responsibility.
• Belief in Human Rights, Justice, Brotherhood, and Equal Opportunity for all citizens.
• A Philosophy of the Left.
Democracies Today
AUTHORITARIANISM
GENERAL
• System in which the people have little or no say in their political lives but have some freedoms in their economic and social lives.
• Prior to the democratic movements of the last decade, the most numerous type of government found in the world.
• A philosophy of the “right”. Tend to be conservative.
• Often have a ruling elite--military or propertied.
CHARACTERISTICS
• Maintains belief that man is bad.• Usually non-democratic--people don’t choose
rulers. (Dictatorships/Kings/Juntas)• Strong police/security force.
• Usually has one political party only.
• Usually has limited liberties.
• The individual serves the state.
• Change is very slow--rural nations.
• Government by the elite--oligarchy, monarchy, and aristocracy.
• Found sometimes in high poverty nations with high illiteracy rates.
• Minorities are often persecuted.
KIRKPATRICK DOCTRINE
• United States could cooperate with authoritarian nations with bad human rights because they were more capable of reform and less dangerous than totalitarian ones.
• Of course, those right-wing anti-communist nations were our friends and pro-Soviet regimes were the “bad” totalitarian ones.
REAGAN WINS COLD WAR
• Was it support of Contras, mujahadeen, Marcos, et al or did we simply outspend (Star Wars)?
DEVELOPMENTAL AUTHORITARIANISM
CRITICISM
• Maybe developmental authoritarianism doesn’t work at all.
• India has had impressive growth since the 1990’s began. They have achieved this with a democratic government.
TOTALITARIANISM
• Coined by Mussolini to describe Fascist Italy.
• System in which the people have no say in any part of their lives.
• Complete control by the government (the State) of the people’s Political, Social, and Economic lives.
GENERAL
• Most people in human history lived under this system.
• Philosophy of the Far Right.
• Found in nations run by the military or propertied elite.
• Beyond a police state/dictatorship.
CHARACTERISTICS
• Belief that man is bad.• Strong security forces
to preserve order.• Individual serves the
state at all times--pawn of the State. State sacrifice is expected.
• State is supreme--All Knowing--always correct.
• One political party--no opposition allowed.
• Rule by the elite who know what is best.
• Conformity is the rule. Society is regimented.
Khmer Rouge
• Expects and demands total obedience to the state. No dissent.
• Change is opposed and very slow, if any.
• Inequality is built into system.
• Government is centralized and bureaucratic.
• Use of propaganda to brainwash people.
CONTEMPORARY STATES?
• George Bush’s “Axis of Evil”
CULT OF PERSONALITY
GENOCIDE