Is Freedom a Universal Value?

the AZEL PERSPECTIVE Commentary on Cuba's Future, U.S. Foreign Policy & Individual Freedoms - Issue 201

Is Freedom a Universal Value? Share Tweet Forward

The United States was founded on the premise that freedom is a universal value. Thomas Jefferson, in the Declaration of Independence, was unequivocal: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  But, is freedom indeed universally valued by all peoples, everywhere, at all times? Historically, it cannot be argued that freedom is a universal value. Professor Jesse Rufus Fears, lecturing on the History of Liberty, points out that the great Egyptian civilization that built the pyramids did not even have a word for freedom in their vocabulary; China and Mesopotamia never developed a clear idea of freedom; and in China, the teachings of Confucius were about order and not about freedom. Under conditions of stress, many peoples have been willing to give up political and individual freedoms in order to protect their nation from foreign attacks. The USA Patriot Act, which reduced individual freedoms by expanding the powers of law enforcement agencies, was enacted by Congress following the September 11 attacks. The Patriot Act is a contemporary example of a national decision to diminish freedom. And yet, practically all American Presidents have articulated U.S. foreign policy on the premise that freedom is a universally desired value, and we have fought several wars to defend the principle of universal freedom. But what happens when individuals in other nations do not value freedom as we do? Should they be forced to be free? Freedom is most easily defined as having the ability to act without constraint. Freedom is related to, but not identical to the concept of liberty. To be free is to be self-determining; to have liberty is to be liberated from something. Liberty is associated with institutions; freedom is personal.  To keep this discussion away from esoteric philosophical debates on freedom, I am thinking here of freedom in the sociopolitical context. And to better frame the question of whether freedom is a universal value, let’s borrow Professor Fears’ breakdown of freedom into three components of national, political and individual freedom. National freedom is the freedom of a nation to be independent from foreign domination or control. Political freedom is the freedom to choose our own governing officials, the right to say what we want in political discourse, and to give ourselves the laws under which we will be governed. Individual freedom is the freedom to live as we choose as long as we do not harm anyone else. These freedoms are not necessarily found together.  For example, North Korea or Cuba can be said to have national freedom but no political or individual freedom. The Roman Empire took great pride on its individual freedoms, but lacked national or political freedom as all its component nations were ruled by Rome.   In the United States, we have achieved a remarkable and balanced integration of national, political, and individual freedom. But, it does not follow that every nation wants our kind of freedom. We have found our freedom agreement enormously useful and beneficial, and I believe it is the best societal arrangement yet devised.  But other societies may need to find ways of organizing their nations in ways that better reflect their own traditions and culture.  Notwithstanding our own well-meaning intentions, if freedom is not a universal value, we must reluctantly accept the freedom of other peoples to define their own identity. Freedom may not be a universal value, but it is an enduring one. In the spring of 2019, I visited Riga, Latvia where in 1818 the main boulevard was named Alexander Street in honor of Czar Alexander. When Latvia first gained its independence in 1923, the boulevard was renamed Freedom Street. That provocative name did not suit the Nazi occupiers during World War II who renamed it Adolf Hitler Street. Later, when the Soviets occupied Latvia they renamed it Lenin Street. But when Latvia regained its independence in 1990 the famous boulevard, once again, became Freedom Street.  May it always remain free. Please let us know if you  this article. We welcome your feedback. Abrazos,  Lily & José  (click on the name to email Lily or Jose) José Azel, Ph.D. José Azel left Cuba in 1961 as a 13 year-old political exile in what has been dubbed Operation Pedro Pan - the largest unaccompanied child refugee movement in the history of the Western Hemisphere. He is currently dedicated to the in-depth analyses of Cuba's economic, social and political state, with a keen interest in post-Castro-Cuba strategies. Formerly, a Senior Scholar at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies (ICCAS) at the University of Miami, Jose Azel has published extensively on Cuba related topics. In 2012 and 2015, Dr. Azel testified in the U.S. Congress on U.S.-Cuba Policy, and U.S. National Security.  He is a frequent speaker and commentator on these and related topics on local, national and international media.  He holds undergraduate and masters degrees in business administration and a Ph.D. in International Affairs from the University of Miami. José along with his wife Lily are avid skiers and adventure travelers.  In recent years they have climbed Grand Teton in Wyoming, trekked Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Machu Pichu in Peru.  They have also hiked in Tibet and in the Himalayas to Mt. Everest Base Camp. They cycled St. James Way (El Camino de Santiago de Compostela) and cycled alongside the Danube from Germany to Hungary. They have scuba dived in the Bay Islands off the Honduran coast and in the Galapagos Islands. Their adventurers are normally dedicated to raise funds for causes that are dear to them.  Watch Joe & Lily summit Kilimanjaro. Books by Dr. José Azel "Liberty for beginners is much more than what the title promises. It is eighty themes touched with the wisdom of a master, and the charm of an excellent communicator. Anyone that wishes to understand why countries do, or do not progress, will find in this book the best explanations. If it was in my power, this work would be required reading for all college and university students, and I would recommend its reading to politicians, journalists, and policymakers. With this book Azel accomplishes what was achieved in France by Frédéric Bastiat, and in the United States by Henry Hazlitt: brings together common sense with intelligent observation, and academic substance. Stupendous" Carlos Alberto Montaner Buy Now "Libertad para novatos es mucho más de lo que promete el título. Son ochenta temas tocados con la sabiduría de un maestro y la amenidad de un excelente comunicador. Cualquier adulto que desee saber por qué progresan o se estancan los pueblos aquí encontrará las mejores explicaciones. Si estuviera en mis manos, esta obra sería lectura obligatoria de todos los estudiantes, tanto de bachillerato como universitarios, pero, además, se la recomendaría a todos los políticos y periodistas, a todos los policy makers. Azel logra con este libro lo que Frédéric Bastiat consiguiera en Francia y Henry Hazlitt en Estados Unidos: aunar el sentido común, la observación inteligente y la enjundia académica. Estupendo." Carlos Alberto Montaner Compre Aqui In Reflections on Freedom, José Azel brings together a collection of his columns published in prestigious newspapers.  Each article reveals his heartfelt and personal awareness of the importance of freedom in our lives.  They are his reflections after nearly sixty years of living and learning as a Cuban outside Cuba. In what has become his stylistic trademark, Professor Azel brilliantly introduces complex topics in brief journalistic articles. Buy Now En Reflexiones sobre la libertad José Azel reúne una colección de sus columnas publicadas en prestigiosos periódicos. Cada artículo revela su percepción sincera y personal de la importancia de la libertad en nuestras vidas. Son sus reflexiones después de casi sesenta años viviendo y aprendiendo como cubano fuera de Cuba.  En lo que ha resultado ser característica distintiva de sus artículos, el Profesor Azel introduce con brillantez complejos temas en  breves artículos de carácter periodístico. Compre Aqui Mañana in Cuba is a comprehensive analysis of contemporary Cuba with an incisive perspective of the Cuban frame of mind and its relevancy for Cuba's future. Buy now Pedazos y Vacíos is a collection of poems written in by Dr. Azel in his youth. Poems are in Spanish. Buy now

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