Market Democracy

Social democracy was the progressive political program of the 20th Century. Social democracy treats economic liberty as morally less important than civil or political liberty. Social democracy is often contrasted with libertarianism, a political system that treats the economic liberties of citizens as moral absolutes. Between social democracy and libertarianism there is conceptual space for a third view: market democracy. Market democracy treats economic liberty as on a par with civil and political liberty. This course examines the moral foundations of social democracy, libertarianism, and market democracy. Could market democracy be a progressive political program for the 21st Century? Graduate students only; qualified undergraduates with instructor's permission.