Unit Five Summary



Unit Five has explored:

  • the extent to which liberal values are workable in today's society as seen through various political systems
  • the nature of power and authority and explored the imposition of liberalism historically and in our contemporary world
  • various forms of democracy including the systems of Canada and the United States
  • authoritarian political systems, realizing that democracies can be less than liberal and authoritarian systems can reflect both liberal principles and the will of the people to some extent
Through this study you should now have your own ideas about whether liberalism really works and if there is justification for liberalism being imposed on people who may have another worldview.

Power and Decision-Making Challenges for Liberal Democracies Liberalism and Authoritarian Systems Authoritarianism

In many traditional societies, decision-making has been through consensus with a view for the common good. When the first Europeans arrived in North America, they brought their beliefs in individualism with them. These beliefs conflicted with a more collectivist worldview. As more Europeans came to North America, they brought their political systems with them, ignoring the existing structures of Aboriginal people. They endeavoured to impose their views on the Aboriginal people, causing conflicts that are with us today.

Historically, decision-making in most nations of the world was done by powerful leaders who inherited their rule. As societies became more liberal, people began to believe that real authority comes from the people in the form of democracy.

In terms of foreign policy, powerful nations of the world continue to try to impose their liberal beliefs on other nations. Iraq and Afghanistan are contemporary examples.

Democracy has various forms. Each presents various challenges and opportunities to reflect the will of the people. The types of democratic systems include

  • direct democracy
  • responsible government as found in Canada
  • republican democracy as found in the United States


Some problems with democratic systems include

  • representation of voters
  • influences on decision-making
  • apathy
  • tyranny of the majority
  • inefficiency and bureaucracy

People in most nations of the world today experience some limits to their freedoms. Some illiberal states practice forms of liberalism with limitations to some principles, including limits on human rights and limits on economic freedom. People in most nations are somewhat free and somewhat controlled. Some have a collectivist ideology; others believe in freedom but only for small percentage of the population. They impose limits to freedom for the common good or for the good of a powerful elite.

Even very liberal governments impose limits on liberalism in exchange for peace and security. This issue will be explored in more depth in Unit Seven.

Types of Authoritarian Systems

  • Oligarchy
  • Absolute monarchy
  • Theocracy
  • Minority tyranny
  • Military dictatorship
  • One-party state


Techniques of Authoritarianism

  • Use of terror and force
  • Use of propaganda and indoctrination
  • Controlled participation in the electoral process
  • Direction of popular discontent
  • Limits on dissent



Review your notes for this course.

When you have finished reviewing your notes, complete the Unit Review for Unit Five. When you have completed the multiple choice review, take a look at the feedback provided. If you so choose, after waiting 30 minutes, you may complete the quiz again, keeping in mind that the questions and the order of the possible answers are randomly generated. The second version of the review will be different from the first.




In the next unit, you will investigate liberalism and how it effects economic systems.

You will study traditional economies, command economies, and capitalist economies and how they reflect the principles of liberalism as you continue to explore the issue question:
To what extent is liberalism viable?