The nature of relationship between equality of democratic citizenship and liberty of citizens is influenced by economic equality. Comment. (UPSC CSE Mains 2024- Political Science and International Relations, Paper 1)
- Equality and Liberty are considered to be two faces of the same coin. Liberty is not possible if there is no equality in the society. Where there is no equal protection of law, the liberty of one person invariably means, bondage of the other person. Political thinkers like Lord Acton and De Tocqueville are of the opinion that liberty and equality are in contrast with each other. Lord Acton says that “the passion for equality made vain the hope of freedom”.
- Equality simply means the absence of special privileges. All barriers of birth, wealth, caste, and sex should be removed in social and political life. So that the differential treatment is removed.” In other words, equality implies providing adequate opportunities for self-development to all. Since men differ in their needs and capacities, they require different opportunities for their development. Hence the state should provide suitable opportunities to all for the development of their personalities depending on their faculties.
- Economic equality implies removal of gross inequalities of wealth and certain leveling of incomes. According to Lord Bryce “Economic equality is the attempt to expunge all difference in wealth, allotting to every man and woman an equal share in worldly goods”, but such an absolute economic equality is neither possible to attain nor desirable. Economic equality does not mean that all should have the same income because human wants differ and with it the individual capacity to people should have an adequate opportunity for earning a certain minimum standard or income.
- Great inequalities of wealth made enjoyment of liberty impossible for the unfortunate many. Those who are wealthy and control the government use their authority to the detriment of the poor. Therefore, in the larger interest of society, imposing certain reasonable restrictions on individual freedom is necessary. Thus, liberty by nature is limited. Everyone should be given opportunities to develop his or her personality freely and fully. This would mean imposition of restraints on individual freedom. Equality without liberty is unreal. It is liberty which makes equality real. Similarly, equality does not mean uniformity or identity of treatment.
- If democracy is defined as the form of government dedicated to the realization of the values of self-determination, democracy bears a complex relationship to equality. The essential condition of both liberty and equality is peace, order and security. Also without equality democracy cannot exist and without democracy liberty cannot exist. The balance between liberty and equality is an important cornerstone of democratic government.
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