Chapter 3 – Finding Your Voice and Making It Heard
3.3 Personal Political Values
Let’s learn more about our own personal political values. What do you care about?
Kenneth Janda, another well-known political scientist, outlines three core political values: freedom, order, and equality. These values form the foundation of political ideologies and influence how individuals and societies prioritize policies and governance.
- Freedom – Refers to the ability of individuals to act and think without undue restriction, which highlights the importance of personal liberty and autonomy.
- Order – Represents the need for a stable and structured society where laws and regulations maintain public safety and social cohesion.
- Equality – Involves the pursuit of fairness and justice, ensuring that all individuals have equal access to opportunities and resources.
However, these values can sometimes conflict with each other. Let’s first discuss the conflict between freedom and order. The tension arises because maximizing freedom can lead to disorder, as individuals may act in ways that conflict with others or undermine societal stability. Conversely, maximizing order can infringe on personal freedoms, as strict laws and regulations may limit individual autonomy and rights.
This video explores the extremes of prioritizing either complete freedom or absolute order, highlighting the challenges and consequences of both approaches.
YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL2LMTRoWlA
Duration: 1:53
Reflect on what happens when societies focus solely on individual freedom or rigidly enforce order, and how finding a balance between the two is essential for stability and justice.
Another conflict pits freedom against equality. The tension arises because policies designed to promote equality often require some level of government intervention and redistribution of resources, which can be seen as infringing on individual freedoms. For example, implementing universal healthcare for everyone would require significant taxation, which would infringe on the personal freedom of others to do what they want with their money.
Conversely, maximizing personal freedom can lead to significant inequalities, as individuals with more resources or advantages can leverage them to gain even more benefits, leaving others behind.
By reflecting on these themes and their conflicts, you can begin to explore your own political values, considering which aspects you prioritize and how these preferences shape your views on government and policy.
Reference
Janda, Kenneth, Jeffrey M Berry, and Jerry Goldman. 2012. The Challenge of Democracy. 11th ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
