Full Description
In Identifying a Free Society Milan Zafirovski offers a holistic sociological approach to modern free society as a total social system. The book examines the main conditions and indicators of modern free society such as democracy, a free economy, a free culture, and a free civil society, hence political, economic, cultural, and individual liberty entwined with equality and justice. It provides specific and aggregate free-society estimates for Western and related societies based on a variety of objective rankings, data, and reports. On the basis of these estimates, the book identifies liberal societies as the freest as a whole, and their anti-liberal opposites as the most unfree.
Contents
Acknowledgement
List of Illustrations
1 Introduction: Modern Free Society
The Free, Freer, Freest Modern Society and Societies
Democracy, Capitalism, and Modern Free Society
Liberty, Equality, and Justice in Modern Free Society
Definition and Specification of Modern Free Society
Modern Free Society and the Type of Democracy
Modern Free Society and the Type of Economy
Modern Free Society and the Type of Culture
Modern Free Society and the Type of Civil Society
Modern Free Society in Aggregate
Modern Free Society versus Unfree and Pseudo-Free Societies
Classification of Modern Societies
Organization of the Work
2 The Political Condition and Indicator of Modern Free Society—Democracy
Conditions and Indicators of Democracy
Formal-Procedural Democracy
Substantive-Effective Democracy
Comparative Estimates and Types of Democracy
Classification of Modern Political Systems
Comparative Estimates of Democracy for Western and Related Societies
A Note on Liberal Democracies and Welfare States
3 Sources and Grounds for Democracy Estimates
Aggregate Estimates of Democracy
Freedoms, Rights, and Opportunities to Political Participation
Ideological-Political Pluralism and Competition
Effective Universal Political and Civil Liberties
Effective Democratic Rule
State Terror
Imprisonment and Executions as Elements of State Terror
Effective Freedom of Opinion and Dissent
Global Press Freedoms
Effective Universalism, Equality, and Justice of Government Goods and Sanctions
Universalism and Egalitarianism in Public Goods
Justice of Government Sanctions
Peace in the Polity and Pacifism
Peace Estimates
Pacifism versus Militarism Estimates
Militarism versus Democracy—The Persistent 'Janus Face of the West'?
Appendix 3.1 Qualitative Considerations of Political Freedoms
4 The Economic Condition and Indicator of Modern Free Society—A Free Economy
Conditions and Indicators of a Free Economy
Conditions and Indicators of a Free Economy and Types of Capitalism
Classification of Modern Economic Systems
Comparative Estimates of a Free Economy for Western and Related Societies
5 Sources and Grounds for Free Economy Estimates
General Considerations
Property Freedoms and Rights
Free Trade and Freedom of Foreign Investment
Labor Freedom and Agency
Labor Rights, Rewards, and Benefits
Global Labor Rights
Labor Rewards and Benefits
Freedom of Movement of Labor
Appendix 5.1 Qualitative Considerations of Economic
6 The Cultural Condition and Indicator of Modern Free Society—A Free Culture
Conditions and Indicators of a Free Culture
Types of Culture and Comparative Estimates of Cultural Liberty
Classification of Modern Cultures
Comparative Estimates of Free Culture for Western and Related Societies
7 Sources and Grounds for Free Culture Estimates
Artistic Liberties and Rights
Scientific/Academic Freedoms and Rights
Educational Freedoms and Rights
Ideological and Religious Freedoms and Rights
Culture Openness
Appendix 7.1 Notes on Cultural Freedom Estimates for the us
8 The Civic Condition and Indicator of Modern Free Society—A Free Civil Society
Conditions and Indicators of Free Civil Society
Comparative Estimates and Types of Civil Society
Classification of Modern Civil Societies
Comparative Estimates of Free Civil Society for Western and Related Societies
9 Sources and Grounds for Free Civil Society Estimates
Civil Liberties in General
Individual Liberty and Privacy
Reproductive Liberties and Rights
Freedom of Alcohol Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Freedom of Drug Production, Distribution, and Consumption
The Death Penalty for Drug Offenses
Sexual Freedoms and Rights
Legal Status of Extramarital Sex
Legal Status of Same-sex Marriage
Legal Status of Prostitution
Peace and Peaceful Conflict Resolution in Civil Society
Appendix 9.1 Qualitative Considerations of Civil Liberties
10 Summary and Conclusion
Summary of Findings
Conclusions
References
Index
