The idea between positive and negative freedom, requires the existence of a USSR cold war enemy, this why currently we are trying to invest the war on Terror because it meets the same requirements. Only it can exist forever, since a terrorist cell can never be destroy or taken care off like you can the USSR.

I'm not sure that I agree farhad. I think both ideas can exist independent of a demonized enemy. Since negative liberty is essentially the pacification of a population through satiation, it requires providing them everything they want (or are told they want) rather than cowing them into fear (although that is a good pacification technique as well).

Really, I think the war in Iraq has served as whipping post for those that don't wish us to pursue positive liberty. They can point to Iraq and say "Look, see what happens when use violence to try to achieve liberty? You end up with chaos and radical religious sects. Nothing good could ever come of that. Don't rise up, go shopping, you'll feel better!"

Watching this, it was almost immediately obvious to me that there was a problem with Berlin's ideas. In peace theory, there are also positive and negative definitions. Negative peace is simply the absence of violent modes of conflict. Positive peace is a situation where every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential. I learned long ago that you don't define something by what it is not. When Berlin ascribed to that school of thought, I knew he was off track. SO, just like liberty, the negative definition of peace is too short-sighted. There is also a similarity between the positive definitions: they are both vague and can be misinterpreted. But the beauty of both positive liberty and positive peace is that they both encourage a change in people and society. Ultimately, if that change is good or bad can not be known but it is preferable to the inertia offered by the negative definitions.

Here is Part 1
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=8349032228301471543&q=the+trap+duration%3Along
Here is Part 2
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7849982478877371384&q=the+trap+duration%3Along

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Farhad.. it looks like this 6-part series is posted on google and you tube ... I would fix the embed but I don't see it in the deadpool.

I'm intriqued and will watch it on You Tube.

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