Critically analyse what is meant by the New Third Way as a political ideology - Essay Example

New Third Way as a political ideology The purpose of this essay is to critically analyze what is meant by the New Third Way as a political ideology.The ideology was presented in nineties of the 20th century by Clinton, Blair and Schroeder as an attempt to reconsider the politic realities of the world and find the way out from the political and economic crisis of our days. The politicians tried to formulate the issues which could be the most determining in the 21st century. They are: "the idea that government should promote equal opportunity for all while granting special privilege for none; an ethic of mutual responsibility that equally rejects the politics of entitlement and the politics of social abandonment; and, a new approach to governing that empowers citizens to act for themselves" (About the Third Way, 1998).

These ideas are very progressive and necessary at first sight. The matter is that these ideas were formulated in the end of the 20th century, and the political situation was not the same as today. The ideas of the Third Way are of liberal views which are in great crisis today. The world community is facing a lot of new challenges, especially after September 11, 2003. Most of them are related to the global world terrorism and numerous terrible actions made by terrorists throughout the world. Many challenges are connected with WMD proliferation and drug trafficking.

The twentieth century was a century of capitalism and socialism ideas realization, but now in the beginning of the 21st century the ideas of pure capitalism (when profit is the main value, and all problems must be overcome by free entertainment) and socialism (when state is the main power in economic life) are become outdated, as practice shows. So, the leaders of the most powerful countries offered a new decision, so-called The Third Way. The Third Way ideology proposes reasonable combination of the ideas of capitalism and socialism, and the examples of some countries show the reality of this issue: "The top priority of a Japanese individual is to act in the interests of the group first and himself or herself second.

The Japanese are a free society where the individuals have chosen to behave like a socialist society. This is a 'Third Way'" (Mollner, 1988). So, the idea goes back earlier than Clinton, Blair and Schroeder formulated it as The New Third Way. The politicians appealed countries and nations to follow new social and economic politics. Gordon Brown said that "Third Way parties, must avoid resorting to protectionism and instead stimulate New Economy growth, empower workers with lifelong education, promote wealth-building tools for everyone, and enhance the role of communities, not just the centralized state" (Building the Third Way, 2002).

This approach to the global political and economic problems can help the world overcome some problems, but it is not enough for contemporary challenges (see above) overcoming. In addition to that, Patrick Basham argues that "The Third Way seems prepared to limit individual freedom in order to conduct experiments in social engineering that 20th century history suggests will result in considerable social and economic cost" (Walters, 2000). Nevertheless the examples of some countries show that this way is rather possible, but it is necessary to take into account specific national, social and historical features.

SourcesDemocratic Leadership Council Home. About the Third Way. June 1, 1998. Overview. (http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ka.cfmkaid=128). Accessed 30.11.2005Democratic Leadership Council Home. Building the Third Way. July 29, 2002. DLC. Blueprint Magazine. (http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ka.cfmkaid=128). Accessed 30.11.2005Mollner T. The Third Way Is Here. One of the articles in The Next Agenda (IC#19). Autumn 1988, Page 54 (http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC19/Mollner.htm). Accessed 30.11.2005Walters S. Is the "Third Way" a socialist shell game January 19, 2000.

(http://pages.britishlibrary.net/blwww3/3way/3stuff/shell_game.htm). Accessed 30.11.2005