We, the people from developing countries, mostly democratic, facing similar problems, and who are basicly liberals despite our different backgrounds / levels of exposure, see in this group an unique platform - the opportunity not just to network on a global level, but also to present an anveue that will help culminate our liberal points of view.
This initiative is aimed at looking at our own inefficiencies as responsible citizens of our Countries and while shaping our liberal arguments, we seek to develop stronger ideals for a better world.
Thank you Sangeetha!
ReplyDeleteIt was great hearing from Zia after a long while. I was texting Zia earlier, and after a few minutes, I got a surprise phonecall from him. It was really good hearing his voice and his laughs again. Talking to him, even on the phone, brings back good memories about our fabulous time we all shared in Gummersbach, especially at the bar.
Love and miss you all :)
First, I would like to congratulate Sangeetha for finaly realizing our blog dream. It is her initiative & our friends who gave their valuable feedback are also commended. I feel that it will be a wonderful platform for airing our views on multitude of topics that could be personal as well as intellectual.
ReplyDeleteNow friends, about contacting each other on phone, I believe that telecommunication free market has brought down call rates around the world. As a free marketer, we should enjoy the fruits of low costs & hear the voices that we cherish. Proad remains a lively member of our group, her spontaneity is her strength. It is so cool to talk to her & remember not so old time spent together.
Let me fire the first salvo to initiate the debate on the issue of inefficiencies among liberals in our countries.
ReplyDeleteStarting point may be the articulation of our aims in clear & unambiguous terms. In my opinion, they could be:
Our Politics is 'LIBERAL DEMOCRACY'
Our Economy is 'FREE MARKET'
Our Social Orientation is 'ACCEPTANCE OF PLURALITY'
I would appreciate comments from my friends.
I am in the midst of discussing with a friend from rival party (also a FNF alumnus) to replicate the liberalism program we learned in Gummersbach. I feel that we should target at the conservative and religious audience so that liberalism can be accepted in a developing country with Muslim majority like mine. But it will be challenging to get them to attend, and also not sure about their reaction if they really attend the program.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you all on this blog.
ReplyDeleteFor my part I'm not sure that I can say anything useful about how to implement liberal ideas in your respective countries. I can only talk about my own experiences in countries I have worked in. But if I think there is anything useful I can contribute, I sure will.
Three things came to my mind during our seminar concerning the challenges we face:
1. the problem is not one of liberal ideas and how relevant they are but one of policy: concrete ideas about how to go about changing things in line with our ideas
2. how to go about establishing ourselves as a decisive, reliable and credible political force (liberals in many countries are happy with a niche role - as one of you pointed out [this has to change])
3. we have to communicate liberal policies and ideas effectively (firmly and with conviction, in terms that are readily and easily understood).
Have a nice Sunday, all of you.
Stefan
I disagree with Zia about the need to define unambiguous goals (sorry Zia). We are all Liberals on one way or another, but we're different. For example, I can't agree with Ricardo about most economical issues, but I'm sure we agree about human rights, Rule of Law etc.
ReplyDeleteI like Joyce's idea to think how we can talk about Liberal ideas when dealing with conservative audience. Maybe we can raise a subject like this once in a while, talk about it and move to the next subject when we have nothing important to add. If we don't agree about a certain subject, it can be even better. We'll have interesting conversations, like we had in the seminar.
Ilai, there is nothing to be sorry about. I respect your right to disagree & only in this manner we can learn from each other.
ReplyDeleteI may clarify here that my purpose is to seek a clear image of Liberals for electoral politics. We may debate centre-left or centre-right inclinations within liberal movements, which are normal conventions in all other political strains.
If you analyze Conservative & Socialist movements, you will find a range of opinions among them that may differ on the policy intensity pertaining to political, social & economic aspects. However, both these camps have established firm images among their core voters. And they do diverge in their election sloganeering & policies to attract floating voters.
Liberals, unfortunately, has no clear image among voters. It is evident from our fringe status today. I may suggest that we should first decide that what we want to sell & to whom....& whether they will buy it or not....Our purpose is to become a mainstream mass political force.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteI hope you all are good and in high spirit.
I have been trying in vain for 2 days now to post a comment. Hope this time is the good one.
In terms of contribution, what if we all work on a kind of synthesis of the whole seminar we had in Gummersbach. To me it's a good first step to take since I think such a document/presentation would somehow explain the how and why this blog has been created. Plus this will be the occasion for us to see again as a group all the points that have been discussed and all the agreements ans disagreements existing among us about the perception and definition(...) of Liberalism.
Well, that's a idea. Don't know what you think of it.
Anyway, I am glad to be part of this group and hope to be an effective contributor.
Take care!
== Serge.
I posted the question: “How to sell Liberal ideas when dealing with conservative audience?” on my Facebook wall. I got response from a Muslim who was rather annoyed with words like “liberalism” and “conservative”. But eventually from the FB conversation, I find out something from his opinionss on how to sell Liberal ideas to conservative and religious groups. That is: (1) by establishing the objective/goal of what liberalism can help to achieve, and (2) to be sensitive to the values of every individual/group.
ReplyDeleteLet me talk about, where we place a Liberal political party on political spectrum in today's scenario. There are three major international grouping of political parties; 'Socialist International' representing centre-left parties with social democratic leanings, 'International Democrat Union' that includes conservative parties & 'Liberal International' for liberal parties.
ReplyDeleteAmong members of 'Socialist International' & 'International Democrat Union', we find various main ruling & opposition parties that vie for mass voters. Whereas, in 'Liberal International', 'Liberal Party of Canada' could be considered the only mainstream party, whereas other liberal parties could be termed as niche parties or 2nd tier parties.
'Liberal Party of Canada' has successfully placed itself on centre-left spectrum. With greater affluence & fiscal space, Canadian liberals can afford advocating higher spending & supporting economic diversity to retain a solid vote bank. In policy terms, Canadian liberals have more centrist tendencies than leftist.
Whereas, we have seen liberal parties in Germany & UK also aligning themselves with Conservative parties to reflect ground realities for their priorities.
In South Africa, 'Democratic Alliance', though coming from centre-left tradition, has gradually broadened its appeal against ANC's crony capitalism & is attracting voters from entrepreneurial class.
With less fiscal space in developing countries, liberals will have a space on the centre-right spectrum. I am talking of pragmatic electoral strategy. Centre-right in developing world is dominated by nationalist & religious parties representing inclusiveness of majority, whereas centre-left talks about minorities & have nots with large government as the solution.
What liberals need to offer & how they position themselves? I leave it to debate by my friends...
i am very happy that we finally have the blog with the opportunity of continuous development of what we have built in Gummersbach , thanks Sanjeeta for this effort.
ReplyDeleteDr Lee I share ur opinion on selling liberalism to Muslim majority counties like mine also in my party I will try to study and practice this ideas and let u know by the results
Stefan, this is exactly the intention of 'My Liberalism Today'.
ReplyDeleteI know it won't be difficult debating our liberal points of view vis a vis our countries considering that we are a very curious and passionate group!:)But, what ultimately matters is how best we are able to refine these thoughts, perfecting them, to communicate loud and clear as one voice.