1. Introduction

Challenges to Liberalism with Alternative Thought


Issue Question: Is resistance to liberalism justified?
Big Ideas:
You will 
  • appreciate how citizens and citizenship are impacted by the promotion of ideological principle
  • appreciate that individuals and groups may adhere to various ideologie
  • examine the extent to which modern liberalism is challenged by alternative ideas
  • evaluate the extent to which resistance to liberalism is justified

Duration: 1 block (80 mins + homework)

Challenges to liberalism come from many different perspectives. Some groups feel they need to protect and support their own beliefs and values from those of liberalism. By protecting and supporting their beliefs and values, they challenge liberalism. People hold certain beliefs based on their own individual and collective values. Many of these values come from their culture and their deeply held beliefs. What happens when some of these deeply rooted ideas oppose the values of modern liberal ideology?

Many aspects of society, such as Aboriginal collective thought, religious perspectives, extremism, and environmentalism, are challenging liberal ideology constantly. When some perspectives differ in ideology from liberal governments, some people may feel they need to protect and support their beliefs and values. By protecting and supporting their beliefs and values, people challenge liberal ideology. Whether these perspectives are striving for self-government, religious laws, traditional roles of women, or sustainability not economic freedom, people are all using the institutions in liberal societies to challenge liberal ideology.

Ideological challenges to liberal ideology may come from Aboriginal perspectives, religious perspectives, environmentalist perspectives, and extremist perspectives.