We understand Liberal values to be Peace and Human Rights,
Constitutional Democracy, Universal Suffrage, Radical Subsidiarity and
Individual Initiative; Indivisible and Individual Human and
Environmental Freedoms, Rights and Responsibilities; Tolerance, Mutual
Respect, Multicultural Pluralism, Dialogue and Learning; the Rule of
Law and Open Democratic Civic Participation; Transparency and
Accountability; an Equal Opportunity Open Society; Free Enterprise in
an Open, Competitive, Market Economy; and Consultative, Responsive,
Localised Government.
We understand the priorities of Local Government to be to ensure that
the populace have equal access to Housing, Security, Healthcare,
Nutrition, Welfare, Education, Opportunity and Growth; so that each and
every individual may be able to develop to the full potential; if they
so choose.
We understand Liberalism to be the belief in and practice of these
values; and the application of these values to the arenas of public
policy making, public governance and the private lives of the
individuals.
So when we ask what is the future of Liberalism in South Africa we have
to begin by looking at where Liberalism in South Africa has come from
and where it is now?
Liberalism is inherently a cause of action which seeks to liberate the
individual from bondage and servitude; thus enabling the individual to
choose for themselves the paths which they take in their lives.
As such the cause of Liberalism has arisen whenever people have sought
to overthrow, among other things, the tyranny of absolute
dictatorships; the shackles of slavery and the ignominy of immobile
social classes.
Liber means “a free man” as opposed to a slave; and it is clear that
from this word came the word “liberty”; it is also clear that the
concept of Liberty is closely related to the principles of Liberalism.
As the political, social and economic revolutions of our time have
moved from rebellion against serfdom to rebellion against tyrannical
governments; liberalism has always been at the forefront; demanding
changes which would increase the extent of personal liberty.
So it is no wonder that Conservative, Communist, Socialist and
Nationalist rhetoricians have all come to “steal” certain principles
from Liberalism and to parade them as their own values. Many principles
have been stolen; particularly the ones which make tyrants look like
democrats.
But none of these instances have seen Conservatism, Communism,
Socialism and Nationalism adopt the principles of Radical Subsidiarity,
Individual Initiative, the Rule of Law and Open Democratic Civic
Participation; and as such they have never been unable to realise the
full value of a free enterprise driven market economy.
It is also not surprising that Neo-Conservatism which is the philosophy
of greed and exploitation has come to be misunderstood as “Neo
Liberalism”. Categorically; there is no such thing as neo-liberalism,
it is a fallacy concocted by pseudo-left fashion activists; who have
lapped up the plagiarism of certain Liberal values by the
neo-conservatives; and have all been duped into believing the myth of
neo-liberalism.
In response the malicious accusations of the pseudo left; which have
falsely held that Liberalism does not care for the weak and the
disadvantaged; Liberals in South Africa, and elsewhere, have tried to
illustrate the “Social Dimension of Liberal Policy”. Again this has led
to the creation of another myth; that of social liberalism. Social
Liberalism does not exist; because the values of Liberalism itself
satisfy the objectives of a “Socially Equitable” Liberal Democracy. Neo
liberalism, social liberalism and social justice must be disregarded as
the fallacies which they are in order to move forward with any debate
on the Liberalism itself.
I refer you at this point to an essay entitled
“2007/8 Do we need a new
definition of Liberalism in South Africa?”
Therefore Liberalism, as it is defined at the beginning of this
discussion, provides the means of equal opportunities; and through this
provides the basis for people to improve the quality of their lives, if
they so choose.
As such it is important at this point to suggest that Liberal policies
may be best implemented by Liberals themselves; provided that such
Liberals are focussed on their Liberal principles. It is most evident
that Liberal governments which fail; do so by failing to adhere to
their Liberal principles; in the implementation of public policy.
In addition to which it is also clear that there is a Liberal way of
doing things which actually realises the goals of Liberalism within the
context of the private lives of people and outside of the public space;
and that here again it is incumbent upon Liberals to adhere to their
Liberal principles in respect of the choices and decisions which they
make in their daily lives.
However it is also important that Liberalism defends itself against
having its values and policies hijacked by conservatives, socialists,
nationalists and communists; and from being misrepresented as something
which it is not. In order to do this, Liberals have to be vigilant that
they do not allow people to hold denigrate the cause of Liberalism.
In respect of these three obligations, incumbent upon all Liberals; it
is obvious that the future of Liberalism in South Africa is very
bright; for if it were not, the opponents of Liberty would not be
trying to steal Liberal values and policies while denigrating
Liberalism. It is also obvious that the future success depends entirely
on Liberals having the gumption to stand up and defend, explain and
advocate for Liberalism; at every opportunity.
The question is how do you enable and capacitate a cohort of Liberal
activists; who are able to defend, explain and advocate the principles
of Liberalism? Within Liberal organisations, internal training programs
have worked well over the last 20 years; but in the broad mainstream of
the public space; the people have taken ownership of Liberalism in part
without a full understanding of the interconnectedness of all of the
principles of Liberalism; such that some may believe that they are
Liberal just because they are open minded, but are not in fact Liberal
if they favour state-centric economic development.
The challenge for Liberalism is to co-ordinate the activities of all of
the Liberal organisations and to ensure that the broad ensembles of
Liberal activists are all “on the same message”. This is no easy task
and; short of utilising an Open University for Liberal Democracy, is
largely impractical.
Where then will the leadership for this Liberal revolution arise? I say
that it starts with each and every single one of us as an individual.
Surely that is the Liberal way of solving this problem?
Avishkar Govender
eThekwini-Durban
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
SADC - AU