People struggled for liberty during the 17th and 18th centuries. They secured and enjoyed liberty in increasing during the 19th century. But since the World War I (1914-18) they are increasingly deprived of their freedom and liberty in many countries of the world. Many anti-freedom movements have swept over several parts of the globe today; fascism rose in Germany, Italy and Spain. McCarthyism threatened liberty of thought, speech and association in the U.SA. Anti-Communist crusades in many countries have denied liberty and rights to communist, socialist and leftist parties and associations. In Communist countries rights of many human individual are recognised in theory but denied in practice. Even in England which prided herself as the home of liberty during the 19th century liberty is on the decline. “There have been more prosecutions”, says C.E.M. Joad, “in England during the fifteen years that have elapsed since the World War I than in the half century before 1914″‘. We described below the causes of the decline of liberty in modem times.
Growth of modern science and industry
In the 19th century science and industry were confined to a few countries which were free in their organisation and influence. But the government of every country today endeavours to protect its economic prosperity and stability by regulating economic, industrial, agricultural and commercial relations and activities, which limit the freedom of the individuals and groups to a great extent. State interference in economic life is one of the reasons of the decline of liberty.
Decline in the social position and value of the individual
Nineteenth century was the heyday of Individualism, because in the West European countries the individual had, after centuries of social evolution freed him from the dominance of feudal groups and customs. He was granted rights and freedom. Thus his position changed from socially determined role and position to self-determined role and position. But in the 20th century the individual has again come under the domination of new groups. If in the past his social role and position were determined by his family, his birth, caste, etc, they are now determined by his nation, national State, political party, trade union, class, etc. The new groups and forces are far stronger and more widespread and complex in organisation and influence than the older groups ever were. They control the life and activities of their individual members far more effectively and rigidly than the earlier groups could ever do.
Growth of mass-propaganda
The growth of the techniques of mass-propaganda is perhaps the greatest discovery and the most important feature of the present century. Radio broadcasting, cinema, mass-circulation news papers and magazines, television, and space satellites and such other inventions have placed powerful means in the hands of the Government to control human mind and thought. Modem man listens more than he thinks. His mind and tongue have become sort of living tape-recorders, because men now say what they have heard on the radio or read in newspaper or seen on the television screen than what they have themselves thought. This has depressed the position and worth of the individual and made him a mere cog in the huge propaganda machine of the State. Human mind has become mechanised for which liberty of thought, belief, opinion and the like have little or no value.
International tension
Science and technology have made our globe a small world. But ideology and national hatreds have divided it into warring groups and blocs. International rivalries are raging over the whole globe. An unending period of crises exists in the present times, during which there is little or no room for the liberty of the individual. As criticism impairs national unity and sows distrust’, the voice of opposition to government is suppressed. In such an atmosphere liberty finds it extremely difficult to flourish.
Growth of centralisation
Owing to the causes mentioned above and the increase in the activities and responsibilities of the modem State, its authority has increased. Centralisation of government authority has become the order of the day. But every increase in the authority of the modem State has led or tends to lead to the corresponding decrease in the liberty of the individual.