The ongoing conflict between liberalism and socialism

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Don’t we all dream of global peace, prosperity, and good health?

This new year begins in a world filled with upheaval and conflict. Divides have become inflamed between rich and poor, white and coloured, left and right. Accusations abound of shoddy government responses to the continuing thrashing by COVID. Allegations of inequity, injustice, lies, and corruption fill the news media.

Adding fuel to the fire has been Trumpism, the latest iteration of the West’s dominant neo-liberal ideology of self-reliance and entitlement. This dogma advocates for small government, low taxes, elected governance, and the primacy of individual rights. Personal survival then hangs on each citizen getting motivated, innovative, and productive. And so the beliefs are that society as a whole shall be lifted and those who succeed are deserving of the preponderance of wealth and power. This self-centeredness has indeed led to unparalleled economic creativity, learning, and growth. Time has shown however, that for the disadvantaged and the marginalized opportunities cannot be realized, and so many more suffer in abject poverty; distraught, under-serviced, and lacking support or hope.

In contrast, the opposing doctrine of socialism seeks wide-spread government involvement, if not control, focusing on group survival over that of the individual. Collectivist ideologies have led to greater socio-economic equality, increased services, greater fairness, accessible education, and a sense of communal connection and safety. On the detrimental side, socialism has invariably created its own elites and has too often supported tyrannies of one sort or another. History has shown that over time entrenched collectivism typically diminishes economic motivation, innovation, and productivity. Public monopolies tend to engender administrators over leaders, reactivity prevails over creativity, and political motivations override principles.

Notwithstanding these espoused contradictory doctrines, no contemporary society is purely one or the other. Globally there are predominant models for many societal functions. Governments universally monopolize essential services. Governments also tend in one manner or another to dominate core infrastructure. On the other hand, in regards to economics free market approaches are now prevailing. In establishing social order all cultures provide a complex of functions; with each containing a determined degree of both independent ownership and of tribal possession.

These two seemingly opposing ways of social structuring, liberal and socialist, reflect two essential traits of being human. One is the consciousness of an existing separate self. This is the personal ego identity. The other is the human mammalian need for group attachment and identification. We are a less than ferocious specie that of necessity is programmed for group survival. Our subconscious encoding seeks to answer; who am ‘I’ and what is my story, who is my tribe and what is ‘our’ story, when is it proper to act for me or for the tribe, and what distinguishes ‘us’ from ‘them’ and how do we relate to the ‘other’. Being an integrated human being means recognizing that each of us innately has both a distinct individual identity and a strong drive to be constituent part of a family and tribe. To succeed we must find a healthy optimal balance between individuality and attachment. Humanity’s super-tribes remain in conflict based on these competing psychological attributes as they are embodied in liberal and collectivist narratives; the democracies against the communists, east versus west, neo-liberals in opposition to socialists. In the end, believing we are one polarity or the other is a deception. We are all both.

The new year is resplendent with suffering and need. Pandemics know not human personal or tribal distinctions. Viruses care not for our relationships, our stories, or our belief systems. Responding to COVID requires collaborative solutions which are equitable, compassionate, and fair in the distribution of medical assistance. Equally, the pandemic requires actions driven by individual innovation, achievement, and acknowledgement. Polarized ideologies stand in the way of success and of survival. The question for 2021 is where will each of us, and all of us, set the balance of individuality and collectivity? Will it be every person for themselves, will it be every tribe for itself, or will it be a global coming together to rescue each other? Or will it be an integrated structuring that best meets the current crises? When we incorporate the best balance of self and other we become true to ourselves as humans and we remove energies that may otherwise ignite a spiral of conflict and destruction. At this historic time we are all compelled to answer these questions.