Is sustainable development compatible with liberal democracy? View Topic View To

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Is sustainable development compatible with liberal democracy?

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Is environmentalism (or sustainable development) compatible with liberal democracy?

The key components of liberal democracy as we practice it in the US are:

a. A belief in limited government

b.Protection of property rights

c. Majority rule (votes translated into policy outcomes)

d.Protection of civil rights/liberties

e.Individualism

Think about each of these components. How might these fundamental values need to change in order to move US society/government toward more sustainable development?

Explanation / Answer

Liberal democracy is a form of government in which representative democracy operates under the principles of liberalism, i.e. protecting the rights of the individual, which are generally enshrined in law and Environmentalism  is a broad philosophy, ideology, and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the impact of changes to the environment on humans, animals, plants and non-living matter, so we can say that these are not completely compataible with democracy.

a.Limited government is defined as a governing or controlling body whose power exists only within pre-defined limits that are established by a constitution or other source of authority.

With time things changes and we need to change rules and regulation in order to perform better and it should be minimum government maximum governance.

b.The property rights component is an assessment of the ability of individuals to accumulate private property, secured by clear laws that are fully enforced by the state.

With the help of property rights many people deteriorate the environment ,there will be some restriction and rules should be made to stop the misuse of law.

c.Majority rule,the principle that the greater number should exercise greater power.

sometimes due to conflict of interest majority goes against the environment in such situation the cost will be faced as deterioration of the environment.we need to make some areas as sacroscent so nobody can touch them as this will be for mankind.

d.Proctection of civil liberty means everyone is equal and have same status and are equal before law.

with this there will be increase in number of people in deteriorating the environment,we need to declare some area as national park in which cutting and hunting should be banned,we need to move to environment friendly living.

e. Individualism,a social theory favouring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control.

with this the individual is free to do anything and there will be no restrioction and accountability for his action and it will bring chaos in the society.so there is a need to shift from individualism to collectivism.

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