What do we understand by the idea of a politica Essays - Politics

What do we understand by the idea of a political system'? How are different political systems connected to the traditions of social scientific thought? To begin with, a political system is a scheme that makes up how the country is run mainly between the government, the people and the economy. There are different political systems that governments around the world have adopted like Liberalism, which is the current political system the USA uses and Communism, which China uses. Although, there are other traditions of social scientific thought like Conservatism, Anarchism, and Fascism that other parts of the world use. The United States of America is one of the most powerful countries of in the world since world war two. They follow a liberal political system. T here are two types of liberalism. One being Classical Liberalism and the other being Modern Liberalism. There are significant differences between the two although they branch out from the same sort of thought that an individual "should enjoy maximum possible freedom consistent with a like freedom for all" but also that "they should be rewarded in line with their talents and their willingness to work" CITATION And07 \p 23 \l 1033 (Heywood, 2007, p. 23) . The USA has inh erited modern liberalism where personal development is promoted with a qualified endorsement for so cial and economic intervention and is characterized by self-determination, openness, deb ate and powerful moral thrust CITATION And07 \l 1033 (Heywood, 2007) They have a distinct set of values and beliefs most importantly in the individual, justice, tolerance, reason, and freedom . When liberals speak about the individualism in liberalism, it is basically meant that the people are not characterized by their social groups, but are characterized by their individual self and inner-qualities and self-sufficiency. Liberalism in essence supports individual freedom. There is a desire for a society where everyone is capable of matching to their own potential goals in their own way as long as it doesn't interfere with the liberty of others CITATION And07 \l 1033 (Heywood, 2007) CITATION Jim05 \l 1033 (Peron, 2005) . This freedom however, is limited to the self. Liberals do not believe that these rights or any sort of privilege should be restricted based on factors like a particula r class, race, gender, religion, color, or social background. Their justice is based on most kinds of equality including the distribution of material r ewards and benefits in society CITATION And07 \l 1033 (Heywood, 2007) . One of the other forms of equality is toleration, or willing to accept something even though you disagree with it, and this is a crucial trait to have in a society where freedom is everybody's right. As all people were not born the same, it is not uncommon that they will have different views and ideas from each other. Therefore, as French writer Voltaire said, "I detest what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it" CITATION And07 \p 35 \l 1033 (Heywood, 2007, p. 35) it establishes the rules on how people in society should act with each other which is necessary to ensure the health of the society as a while CITATION And07 \l 1033 (Heywood, 2007) . Anarchism, in which they don't believe there is a need for any law or government, is one political ideology that shows how liberalism is better for the people. John Locke, English philosopher and politician who was seen as a key thinker of early liberalism, once said "where there is no law, there is no freedom". This is linked to the fact that free individuals may want to exploit others and essentially do whatever they please if they wish to. As there is no one to govern them, the people are in constant threat because this freedom' basically gives them a "license to abuse another" . Restraint for people to not endanger the liberty of another i s needed. That is why traditionally, liberals believe that freedom can only exist under the law because this kind of protection can only be provided by a sovereign state CITATION And07 \l 1033 (Heywood, 2007) . However, even with the thought that society needs a government, liberals are