Prof Mithilesh Kumar Sinha
Department of Economics, Nagaland University, Lumami
Let the birds fly somewhere, let the trees grow somewhere
There should not be the same market everywhere.
These lines of Nida Fazli express the beautiful coordination between progress and freedom. If seen, freedom is a subjective matter whose definition varies from person to person. According to philosopher Rousseau, consensus means freedom.
According to Amartya Sen, development is just the expansion of freedom given to the people. Broadly speaking, freedom means the freedom of the living being. How much importance freedom has for humans is clearly visible in the pages of history. On opening the world history, it becomes clear that in order to achieve independence, many countries of the world had to pay a heavy price for it.
Looking at the importance of freedom, it can be estimated that animals, birds and other creatures also need freedom as much as humans do. But the question arises whether borderless freedom damages the nation?
Obviously it can do damage. USA is a prime example. Instead of everyone being taught that with freedom comes the responsibility to act in ways that don’t hurt others, some seem to think that freedom means they can do want they want to whom they want regardless of any damage done. We have some people who are so misinformed that they think that their right to freedom means they can put a gun in someone else’s face to get their way. It’s as if they can’t remotely grasp the concept that freedom for one means freedom for all. “Feral” freedom can never be good for the country as these days peple expect. If too many people insist upon the wrong kind of freedom—if they choose “feral” freedom, or are insufficiently civilised—they can, indeed, damage a country.
Freedom can potentially damage a country under certain circumstances. While freedom and liberty are generally considered positive values, unconstrained or excessive freedom can lead to social instability, economic disruption, and the breakdown of core societal institutions. Some ways in which freedom can damage a nation include:
1. Lack of rule of law: If there are no effective limits or checks on individual freedoms, it can lead to a breakdown in the rule of law, with people disregarding laws and social norms. This can create chaos, lawlessness, and the decline of public order.
2. Economic disruption: Extreme economic freedoms without proper regulations can foster irresponsible business practices, financial speculation, and the concentration of wealth. This can destabilize the economy, increase inequality, and undermine economic security and growth.
3. Erosion of civic institutions: Unfettered individual freedoms can weaken the cohesion and effectiveness of important civic institutions like government, education, healthcare, and social welfare systems. This can impair a country's ability to address collective challenges and maintain social stability.
4. Polarization and social fragmentation: Unchecked freedom of speech, assembly, and identity expression can exacerbate social divisions, enable the spread of misinformation, and fuel political polarization. This can undermine national unity and social cohesion.
5. Threats to national security: Absolute personal freedoms without regard for public safety can create vulnerabilities that adversaries can exploit, such as the uncontrolled flow of weapons, information, or people across borders.
