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