Chapter 2:Ideology
& Philosophy
An organized set of ideas that modify one another
Helps individuals make sense of political issues (personal use)
Can help leaders influence public in accepting or rejecting policies (public use)
Ideology
1. American Liberalism: Variant of more general political science
defined liberalism; Important to American Liberals to seek
to create equality of people so give authority and legitimacy to government to do this;
Seek to maintain and protect freedom of expression.
Not necessarily same as Democrats.
American Ideologies
2. American Conservativism: Also a form of more generally defined
liberalism in political science Does not like government intervention Willing to let government help maintain
morality Not necessarily same as Republicans
American Ideologies
Both American liberalism and American conservativism fall under this umbrella
Developed in 18th-19th century in Europe along with conservatism and socialism—three main ideologies political scientists debate
Liberalism
Idea that government should help people develop to their fullest potential
Believe people should be responsible for themselves as much as possible so government should be limited
Suspicious of power Favor a view of politics and choice going
together
Liberalism
Very different than American conservatism Main goal of government is to create
stability in communities Based on hierarchy of power (leaders and
people have reciprocal responsibilities) Not suspicious of power Power should be in hands of traditional class
of rulers (ex. Queen)
Conservativism
States or localities consist of different classes of people who are in constant conflict
Believe working class should take power in state and control industry to creat a just society of equality
Socialism
More militant form of socialism A political structure that promotes the
establishment of a classless and stateless society based on common ownership
See Karl Marx
Communism
An authoritarian political ideology that is concerned with notions of cultural decline or decadence
Seeks to achieve a national rebirth by exalting the natin or race, and promoting cults of unity, strength and purity.
Example: Benito Mussilini of Italy
Facism
Political ideology that supports economic liberalism as a means of promoting economic security
Free markets, free trade, and privatization More focus on economy than traditional
liberalism
Neoliberalism
Also known as identity group A group of people with a shared set of ideas
(in this case political ideology) Think their ideology defines them
Political Identity
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