Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions

Question 1: What is your political ideology and how was it formed?

There are various political ideologies out of which five are the most common ones; Anarchism, Absolutism, liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism. Each defines a different set of ideas that shape and define governments and political movements. My political ideology is more influenced by the liberal approach towards politics but it does not go independently. I believe that sometimes conservative ideology can also provide solutions to problems that liberal approach cannot.

Liberal views or liberalism advocates for equality of opportunity within the framework of a system of laws. The role of government as defined by this view is to define and enforce the laws. The role of an individual or the responsibilities that an individual has is diminished in this point of view and it is believed that to raise it is required to have savior. The basic agenda is for the greater good of the society. Though Conservatism and liberalism have the same long term goals, their approaches towards these goals are different.

The reason why I believe liberalism as a suitable political ideology is because history has shown that such a role of the government has brought changes in the society such as in the civil rights movement in the 1960s.Without government intervention the rights of the minorities would never have been acknowledged or equal rights would never have been given to minorities in those times.

Question 2: Stanley Hoffman: New World order is more like world disorder?

The term New World Order has been the subject of a lot of discussion and a lot books have been written on the topic. Hoffman argues that this new world order has done nothing but being a world disorder. He also argues that with the end of Cold War, civil and ethnic/religious conflicts have increased in number. The events in the past few years suggest that he was right in stating these since one can witness sectarianism, tribalism and nationalism rising with a world where there is lesser influence and power of the US. Ethnic and religious violence can be seen in many parts of the world such as in Indian state Assam and Shia vs. Sunni killings in the Middle East and in some parts of Asia. And these are just a few examples; there are many of such things happening in different parts of the world. The new world order is not the one world dreamed of by the idealists but in fact it has race, tribe, culture and creed that matter above the democracy. Democracy is not seen as an end but as a means of an end (Buchanan, 2012).

Question 3: With the end of the Cold War, has liberal democracy triumphed as a global phenomenon? 

The rise of the liberal democracy after the Cold War can be seen globally with many states practicing this kind of democracy in their respective states. States of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Japan, United States, India, Australia, and many other states ...