Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Heywood, Chapter 3
Magstadt, Chapter 2
Ideology
An ideology is a more or less coherent set
of ideas that provide a basis for
organized political action.
All ideologies therefore:
Offer an account of the existing order in
the form of a world view;
Provide a model of a desired future, or a
vision of the Good Society;
Outline how political change can and
should be brought about.
Perceptions of ideology
At a fundamental level, ideologies resemble
political philosophies.
At an operative level, they take the form of
broad political movements.
Anti-government ideologies:
Anarchism
Pro-government movements are not
actually considered as movements,
because having a government is the norm
in the first place.
Anti-government ideologies are more
worthy of analysis, as they are in fact
existing and are based on various
principles.
Anarchism Political authority in all its
forms, especially that of the state, is
unnecessary and evil.
Anti-government ideologies:
Liberalism/Libertarianism
Liberalism Although not strictly antigovernment, liberalists espouse a
perception of the state as being a
necessary evil.
This is because they value individual
freedom above all else.
From its origins as a political doctrine
against absolutism or feudalism, it gradually
became a political ideology that aims to
champion personal opportunity and free
choice.
Elements of Liberalism
Individualism A belief in the supreme
importance of the human individual. Human
beings are seen primarily as individuals and
not as part of any group.
Freedom The freedom of the individual is
the most important value.
Reason The world can best be understood
in a rational way, that is, through relying on
the ability of individuals to make wise
judgments on their own behalf.
Elements of Liberalism
Equality Individuals are born equal. They
have equal rights, and are entitled to equal
opportunities. This is not the same as social
equality, however.
Toleration Each individual should be
allowed to express himself, and each view
should be respected.
Consent Social relationships should
always be based on consent or willful
agreement.
Constitutionalism Government, being a
necessary evil, should be limited.
Liberalist traditions
Right-wing ideologies:
Conservatism
First conceptualized during the late 18th and
early 19th century, conservatism arose as a
reaction to the wave of radical economic
and political change that resulted from the
French Revolution.
It was a political doctrine that sought to
defend the traditional social order.
At first, it came out as a strictly autocratic
and reactionary doctrine, unwilling to
accept any kind of reform.
Right-wing ideologies:
Conservatism
Later on, a more flexible form of
conservatism developed in western
countries, characterized by a belief in
change as a tool for preservation.
Various catch phrases were used to promote
the idea of using reform as an instrument
for preserving social order.
During the late 19th up to the early 20th
century, however, conservatives were still
mostly seen as enemies of radical reform.
Elements of Conservatism
Tradition The desire to preserve social
order is a result of the appreciation for the
values of tradition, which is seen as a mode
of promoting stability and security.
Pragmatism While human rationality
exists, it is limited; it cannot successfully
handle reality on its own. A principle of
practicality is therefore in order.
Human imperfection Humans are
dependent and security-seeking creatures,
prone to corruption and disorder.
Elements of Conservatism
Right-wing ideologies:
Royalism/Monarchism
Royalists or Monarchists are characterized
by their strong support for central authority,
often manifested in the form of a monarch.
They hold the crown in the highest regard
and defend it against revolutionary
demands for democratic reform.
The popularity of Royalism has dwindled in
the last few centuries.
However, many Middle-Eastern countries
are still predominantly royalist, as well as
some African countries.
Right-wing ideologies:
Fascism
The ideology of choice for the extreme right
in the later centuries, fascism can be traced
back to the late 19th century, but was
shaped into a strong ideological force after
WWI.
It is an anticapitalist, antiliberal, antiindividual, anticommunist form of right-wing
ideology.
Ultranationalistic tendencies, growing from
the principle of strength through unity,
gives fascism its distinctive appeal.
By the skillful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see
even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as paradise.
Forms of Fascism
Right-wing ideologies:
Capitalism
Left-wing ideologies:
Socialism
This development led to the division of
socialism into two rival camps in the 20th
century.
The more revolutionary socialists were
focused on the abolition of capitalism
and eventually developed into communism.
The reformist socialists, who believed in
constitutional government, embraced
what came to be known as social
democracy.
Elements of Socialism
Community Human beings are social
creatures linked by a common humanity.
Human behavior is best explained by social
factors.
Fraternity Humans are bound together
by a sense of comradeship, which favors
cooperation over competition.
Social equality The central value of
socialism. Human beings identify with each
other because they are all equal in needs.
Elements of Socialism
Need Proceeding from a highly moral
standard, socialists believe that material
benefits are better distributed on the basis
of need, not merit.
Social class Division of society into
classes is inevitable, which also always
results in the oppression of certain classes.
Common ownership Goods are owned in
common by society in order to better serve
the common good; private ownership
promotes selfishness and division.
Left-wing ideologies:
Marxism
Elements of Marxism
Elements of Marxism