VISITA PREVIA

A state and government that does not seek to exercise absolute control over the ideas, views and opinions of its citizens but encourages the free expression of opinions, irrespective of the subject matter. For the assumption of a liberal society is that out of the multiplicity of views and opinions expressed, the wise, the discerning and the critical will be able to distil the useful, the relevant and the essential from the useless and irrelevant.

Concretely, this disposition to foster and cultivate the free expression of ideas will be manifested in the strict observance of the freedom of speech and expression in the fundamental rights of citizens, freedom and easy access to information including the activities of government and the existence of a free press of newspapers, magazines, radio, television and other mass media of information. There will be no censorship of the media except as considered necessary for the protection of public morality, the welfare of young children and the fight against criminality and pornography.

This last requirement itself could lead to serious controversy and partisan abuse unless such censorship is carried out by an impartial, non- partisan body composed of men and women of integrity.

Besides these formal aspects of a liberal society that can be verified from an inspection of the records or statutes, the attitudinal dimension of a liberal society is manifested in a way key members of the three branches of government react individually and collectively to negative opinions and criticisms of their actions:

Do they condemn, even before a proper examination of the text of any opinions, views or ideas that are contrary to or opposed to their own views.

Will the law enforcement agencies automatically regard as enemies of the State, those who criticize or hold opinions that are opposed to those of principal offices of the Government?

Will the police cells have as their main occupants individuals whose main offence consists in "speaking out” on burning national political, economic or social issues?

Will the government spend huge sums of tax payers’ money in order to ensure that the press reports favourably on its activities?

Answers to these and similar questions will always help you to determine whether any society is a liberal society or not.

Self Assessment Exercise

Can a country whose major newspapers, radio and television stations, (print and electronic media) are owned mainly by the government seriously claim to be liberal?

4.0 CONCLUSION

In this unit you have come to learn one important fact about democracy and good governance: they require in addition to the formal constitutional foundations, a liberal society in order to thrive or function well. This is so because liberalism provides those attitudinal, behavioural and psychological conditions that enable democratic governance work.

For by cultivating the spirit of tolerance for different and opposing ideas, not rejecting any opinions before hand, or refusing to building barriers around any particular idea, a liberal society fosters the articulation of divergent ideas, opinions and programmes for the development of a society.

5.0 SUMMARY

A good way to summarise your discussion of this unit is for you to ask yourself this question: why has it not been possible for all countries that have a democratic constitution to function well as democracies?

This review will help you to answer that question. A good starting point in answering the question: “why has it not been possible for all countries

that have a written constitution based on separation of powers to successfully operate a democratic government on the principles of good governance”, is the fact that while these countries have the outward form of democracy, a written constitution, of powers, checks and balances, etc, they lack the liberal spirit upon which democracy and good governance depend. Very crucial to this spirit of liberalism is tolerance of opposing views and ideas.

A situation in which leaders of opposition parties are branded as enemies of the State, destroyers of their fatherland or saboteurs and quickly sent to prison, a mental asylum or deported to distant lands is a very crude indication of the lack of a liberal psychological atmosphere for the development of democracy and good governance. The more refined and less crude forms of an illiberal political setting is, massive government funding of some mass media to the neglect of others, the attempt to use security men to vet newspapers and magazines or the bribery of journalists.

All such practices that in one way or the other contribute to the mental and psychological attitude that "the leaders are right while all others are wrong" are all part of an illiberal tradition that negates the practice of democracy and good governance.

You can personally contribute to developing a liberal political climate in your country by showing tolerance to the views of others, by refusing to impose your own opinions on others, and always adopting a critical attitude to the information you receive:

Is the information factually correct? How does the information relate to all the other information at your disposal? What is the intent and purpose of this information? Can it help in the effort to build a democratic society on the basis of good governance? Will any action based on this information help to build a peaceful society?

You will agree with me that any action taken upon the basis of the foregoing analysis will surely lead to an improvement in the society.

6.0 TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

Name three critical indicators that can help you determine whether a given country has a liberal political climate and highlight their contributions to democracy and good governance.

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS

Ryan, A. (1993) "Liberalism" in Goodin, R. E. and Petit P. (eds)

Blackwell Companions Philosophy Political Oxford, Blackwell Reference.

Sabine, G. H. and Thorson T. L. (1973) History of Political Theory, Chapter 32, 33.