cpw 4u mr. p carney ideologies, religion, and protest

CPW 4UMR. P CARNEY

Ideologies, Religion, and Protest

Political Ideologies

Examples of Ideologies liberalism Nazism fascism communism liberalism totalitarianism conservatism socialism

Political Ideologies in Canada


Conservative PartyReform Party and Canadian Conservative

Reform Alliance Party (acronyms anyone?!)Bloc QuébécoisLiberal PartyNew Democratic Party


Conservative Party


Reform Party and Canadian Alliance Party


Bloc Québécois


Liberal Party


New Democratic Party

Origins of Political Ideologies

Classical Liberalism Adam Smith – Wealth of Nations major changes in Europe…

Industrial Revolution Urbanization

…. which results in the creation of the middle class which has no political power but has lots of money

middle class begins to challenge traditional authority and revolts against the government (1789 French Revolution)


liberals see this as justified, they support Smith’s ideas and oppose absolutism – they later split into our modern day “liberals” and “conservatives”

conservatives don’t like this challenge to the traditional authority, they resist change

1980s – ‘Iron Lady’ Margaret Thatcher, ‘Ronny’ Ronald Reagan


Reform Liberalism John Maynard Keynes (and others) focused on freedoms in life

pot, porn, gay rights, etc… “The State has no business in the bedrooms of the

nation.” more democratic, interventionist in economics

trying to guarantee a minimum standard of living more eager to provide collective goods via the

state UI, CPP, …. redistribution of wealth by progressive

income tax, etc.


rose out of the concerns for the new working class of the Industrial Revolution

today, growth of large corporations and reduction in the number of competitors in key markets are of concern


Conservative Principles reverence for the past (e.g. Queen) organic conception of society (e.g. societies are

greater than the sum of their parts) constitutional continuity opposition to revolution cautious reform religious basis of state divine source of legitimate authority priority of duties to rights


loyalty common sense and pragmatism economic orientation – market economy

examples Lord’s Prayer at school Sunday shopping women covered in Muslim states class system the “American Dream” slavery in the southern United States


Neo-Conservatism mainly economics rising out of rising debts,

growing size of government and taxes


Socialism emerges in the 19th century as a response to the

horrors of the Industrial Revolution working conditions living conditions lack of response by the liberal governments

“a political and economic theory in which the means of production and distribution are owned, managed, or controlled by a central, democratically elected authority”

based on some form of “Utopian” vision planning by government, public ownership, equality of

outcome, collectivism


Utopian Socialists create ideal societies (communes) so all can see the

benefits democratically created institutions

Revolutionary Socialists appeal to action Communism went beyond economics to sociology –

alienation aka ___________________

Religion in Politics

Eastern Religions and Politics Hinduism Confucianism Buddhism

Western Religion and Politics Judaism Catholicism Islam Protestantism


Hinduism oldest of major world religions believe in a single divinity that is present in

everything through reincarnation, at death a soul passes

from one body to another – good actions in this life lead to a better situation in the next incarnation

rules for diet, family, caste (hereditary social class), and politics

doctrine of non-violence, or ahimsa, was the basis for Mahatma Gandhi’s use of civil disobedience – some Hindus opposed Gandhi


Confucianism Confucius (551–449 BCE) created a system of

“right living” known as ren Confucius taught rulers to act humanely toward

their subjects parents, teachers, and government officials

were the guardians of this civic religion (no priests)

all human relationships involved defined roles and mutual obligations – a social hierarchy

egalitarianism – the promotion of equality co-existed with Buddhism and Taoism well, until

Mao Zedong outlawed all religions in 1949


Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 563–483 BCE)

preached that enlightenment was to be found in the Middle Way, the path that lies between indulgence and asceticism (rigid self-discipline)

many characteristics of Hinduism were adopted a “buddha” is someone who has awakened to the

true nature of universal cause and effect, and whose awareness transcends birth, suffering, and death

Emperor Ashoka made Buddhism the state religion of India and spread it throughout southeast Asia and the Middle East – diaspora of Tibetans spread it further


Judaism Romans destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 CE,

forcing Jewish people to spread throughout the world (diaspora)

in some “host countries”, they were accepted and given much religious freedom; in others, they were viewed as outsiders and treated with hostility

although both Jews and Arabs are Semitic peoples, “anti-Semitism” has come to mean hatred of the Jewish people

Hitler’s Holocaust (1933-1945) was the most extreme example of anti-Semitic behaviour


Catholicism led by the pope, who is seen as the successor to

Saint Peter as Christ’s representative on Earth eastern and western churches evolved

Catholicism intertwined in politics. Gave political advantages – good ones and bad ones

(carrying out the Spanish Inquisition, creating denominational schools, and discouraging divorce, abortion)

eastern Christians saw themselves as Orthodox – following the principles of the original religion

excommunication of two leaders in 1054 finished the schism

John Paul II reached out to the east, but no reconciliation


Islam Islam is an Arabic word that means “submission” a follower of Islam is called a “Muslim,” which means

“one who submits to the will of Allah” Muhammad (570–632 CE) recorded the word of Allah,

in the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam there is no separation of church and state in Islamic

countries – no discrimination based on race or class Christians and Muslims began fighting over access to

holy sites in Jerusalem political violence contradicts Islam’s traditional

teachings - jihad (holy war) is actually the ongoing inner struggle of conscience to be a better Muslim


Protestantism is the politics of dissent Martin Luther (1483–1546) and the Protestant

Reformation opposed the power of the Roman Catholic Church

England’s Act of Supremacy made the king or queen of England the head of the new Church of England

John Calvin, John Knox, and others appealed to the middle classes and gave rise to political democracies

Calvinism, Presbyterianism, and political voices of conscience such as Quakers are all forms of Protestantism


Religious FundamentalismSecularismIndividuals in Politics and ReligionReligion in Politics TodaySeparation of Church and State


Religious Fundamentalism In Christianity, fundamentalists feel that the state

must be subservient to God – most evident in N Ireland

the degree of state backing of a state religion varies there are numerous countries in the world with

official religions, recognizing one of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Jewish religions


Secularism is a policy of avoiding entanglement between

government and religion Disestablishment is the process of divesting

a church of its status as an organ of the state those who wish to continue with an

established church take a position of antidisestablishmentarianism (!)

the First Amendment to the US Constitution explicitly bans the federal government from setting up a state church


Individuals in Politics and Religion religious leaders and thinkers have been

powerful voices of conscience in the secular world of politics

interplay of politics and religion within specific individuals can be significant Mohandas Gandhi and Indian Nationalism Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Anti-Nazism Mother Teresa and the Politics of Poverty The Dalai Lama and the Defence of Tibet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Apartheid


Religion in Politics Today Religion plays a significant role in politics in many

different parts of the world Ireland and Northern Ireland (UK) India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh Israel and Palestine China Iran United States


Separation of Church and State at the structural level of government, separation of

church and state may be clear at the everyday level, however, religious beliefs

frequently impinge on political procedures and decision making Should a legislative session open with a prayer? Should church property be exempt from taxation? Should religious symbols be allowed in public schools and

government offices? Should religious beliefs have precedence over human

rights legislation?

Revolution

When we think of democracy as ‘mob rule’ it is easy to identify the tendency and right of all individuals to voice their opinions regarding the leadership of the country. People in favour of this notion, agree that protests are examples democracy at play.

Coup D’etat


1. Explain why in Hinduism every political decision is also a religious decision.

2. In what ways was Confucianism an indispensable component of political stability in China?

3. How was Buddhism adopted and adapted by several Chinese emperors and the governments of various dynasties?

4. How did the Jewish people maintain their cultural identity despite the Diaspora?

5. Why were Jews often isolated socially and politically?


6. Describe the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and Henry IV of Germany, Ferdinand of Spain, and Louis XIV of France.

7. Why did the Catholic Church split into the Western and Eastern churches?

8. What is the relationship between religion and government in Islam?

9. Why did Calvinism appeal to the middle classes?

10. How did the Protestant Reformation affect the relationship between church and state?

cpw 4u mr. p carney ideologies, religion, and protest

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