Political Traditions: Liberal, Socialist, and Greek Foundations
5) The Liberal Tradition
The core of political activity centers on the individual. Individual freedom of action within the State guarantees individual self-interest to achieve economic competitiveness and free exchange rules. The liberal state plays an essential role in life-safety protection, reducing uncertainty and fear, promoting civil peace, facilitating trade, and ensuring the right to property. Social activity is explained by self-interest: competitiveness. Guaranteeing individual freedom and economic freedom defends private property, strengthening the importance of competitiveness. The State and civil society are characterized by a coordination mechanism.
6) The Socialist Tradition
From the perspective of social solidarity, action is explained by collaboration. To achieve genuine freedom, social and economic equality is guaranteed for all types of groups. Collaboration strengthens the state and civil society. Social planning and public control of the economy are key. The State’s planning controls the market.
Socialism Types:
- Scientific Socialism/Communism: Based on the ideas of Karl Marx and Lenin, its objectives are the elimination of the market, the socialization of means of production, and the abolition of private property through the cancellation of classes and the disintegration of a revolutionary state.
- Reformist Socialism: Subjects the market to social needs, economic control, and intervention to reduce private property, distributing political power in society, thereby strengthening the democratic state.
7) Foundations in Greece
In 6th century Athens, government was available to all citizens. However, only free men born in the Polis were citizens; slaves, women, foreign groups, and those under thirty years of age were excluded. A fundamental difference was the size of communities. Greek communities were small, and all members knew each other intimately. Society was economically independent. Discussions involved decisions and beliefs, but also participation in the life of the people in a democracy. Difficult issues arose in distinguishing between public and private life.
Similarities between modern democracy and that of Greece: rational argumentation was the basis of authority in the polis of Athens. Political power is acceptable to the public and has political acceptance. Power must have a rational link to strength. According to the public, social participation plays a fundamental role. In Greek education, preparation was essential for citizens in a democracy.
8) Representative System
The primary goal is to protect individual freedom and responsibility through the distribution of power. Legislators are selected and are representative of the voters to whom they answer. A significant advantage of the system is universal suffrage, a way to guarantee the right to confidential political power. The right to vote was gradually achieved, ensuring all citizens have the freedom to decide. Periodic elections ensure governors respond to and are thus governed by the governor or the governor’s choice. Candidates foster political rivalry. Citizens accept the rule of expression, association, and freedom of the press.