Political Ideologies

Some things to think about Four Purposes of a Government Maintain Social Order Provide Public services Provide Security Maintain the Economy Fundamental Values and ideological conflict Liberty vs. order Equality vs. liberty

American Political Ideologies Conservatism Liberalism Restrained Government, active community and private institutions Individualism Federalist (states rights) Associated with business interests Higher Military spending Isolationist; strong national defense Government actively protects social values Pro-Life Higher religiosity, Pro-Life Active government agencies and institutions Social Welfare Programs Nationalist Position Associated with labor interests Lower military spending Global cooperation and intervention Little government interference in society Pro-Choice Lower religiosity, Pro-Choice

Other Ideologies

On the Right: Classical Liberalism (libertarianism?) Reaction to Monarchy: Locke and Smith Belief in Individual liberty and private property Limited Government Interference in the Economy – Laissez Faire Autonomy given to private firms Little to no regulation or taxation Off Shoots: Democratic Capitalism, Imperialism, Welfare State Capitalism

On the Left: Socialism Karl Marx: Communist Manifesto Natural Progression of Things: Critique of Capitalism “From each according to his ability, to according to his need.” Democracy of the Common man, no class distinctions State control of means of production, Equal distribution of societal goods Off shoots: Democratic Socialism, Communism, the welfare state

Totalitarianism Communism: Revolutionary Socialism Consolidates politics into one party rule Aims to carry out Marxist policies through central planning Fascism: Post-capitalist Corporatism “Everything for the state, nothing against the state, no one outside the state” - Mussolini Key Features: Ultra-Nationalism/Statism; one party rule; militarism; corporatism Propaganda: selling the ideology, cult of personality Opposition and undesirables subjugated by secret police Islamism: Theocratic Fascism Sharia law: has absolute priority over democracy and universal human rights Jihad as means to re-establish the Caliphate

Influences on American Political Ideology Realism – Core Assumptions: Human nature inherently bad, Progress not possible through cooperation (Hobbes) Main Actors: States, Governments Belief in constant state of Anarchy; states must fend for themselves World as a competition for power: Zero-Sum Game War as inevitable: legitimate statecraft Liberalism – Core Assumptions: Human nature inherently good, Progress through education and democracy Main Actors: Individuals and groups Anarchy controlled through institutions and laws Focus on cooperation and welfare: world as Positive-Sum Game War the result of flawed institutions