Key words: Ideology – Radical – Constituencies - Political Ideologies Key words: Ideology – Radical – Constituencies -

Political Ideologies and The Political Spectrum

The Political Spectrum Left or Right….of What?? Left? Right? What’s in the middle? What are on the ends?

The Original Dilemma In the classical sense, the Political Spectrum reflected political ideologies’ opinions on how much control the government should have when it came to keeping order of the people. There is more to government control than just keeping order of the people.

Introduction Governments have to figure out their roles in (1)keeping order and (2)the economy Political ideologies are basically ideas on what extent the government should be involved in those two areas

Mainstream Ideologies Mainstream ideologies include Liberalism and Conservatism. These mainstream ideologies do not want to make major changes in our political and social order. Accept capitalism But these two only scratch the surface of the continuum Conservative Liberal Moderate

Liberalism Liberalism-begins with the assumption that individuals are rational beings capable of overcoming obstacles to progress without resorting to violence. Ideas of John Locke. Locke believed in the natural goodness of man. Contract Theory- the state gains it legitimacy from the consent of the governed and is formed to protect the rights of life, liberty, and property. (limited government)

Contemporary Liberalism Traditional Liberalism-begins with the assumption that individuals are rational beings capable of overcoming obstacles to progress without resorting to violence. Contemporary Liberalism Government should be responsible for assisting individuals, businesses, and communities in dealing with social and economic problems. Government should ensure the economic well being of a nation and should provide basic material guarantees (food, shelter, health care, and education) to every individual. Government should stay out of social issues. Tolerance for different lifestyles. Address the needs of unemployed, and farmers.

Contemporary Liberalism The positive state cushions the excessive inequalities of power and wealth that arise in any capitalist system. President Johnson's Great Society: Rent supplements for the poor Scholarships for college students Aid to the arts and humanities Higher pensions for government workers Aid to children with disabilities Food stamp program

Contemporary Liberalism Policy Stances Abortion: support Stem cell research: support Gun control: support Civil unions/same sex marriage: support

Who Are The Liberals? Usually they are found in the Democratic party. Constituencies include: Minorities Labor movement Feminists Poor Conservative Liberal Moderate

Conservatism Conservatism-holds that established customs, laws, and traditions, should guide society. Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France The experience of past generations was the most reliable guide to good government Customs, traditions, and laws should not be discarded People were not equal in ability or talent

Contemporary Conservatism Remains at it’s core a defense of economic individualism against the growth of the welfare state. Welfare state programs only create a permanent class of the poor who are dependent on the state and have no incentives to enter the working world.

Contemporary Conservatism Traditional Conservatism-holds that established customs, laws, and traditions, should guide society. Contemporary Conservatism The Great Depression proved to be detrimental to conservatism. The beginning of the New Deal and many welfare state programs. Popular acceptance of these programs placed conservatism on the defensive for many years.

Contemporary Conservatism Conservatives have opposed most major liberal reforms. Including Social Security in 1935, and Medicare in 1965. Since the 1980's conservatives have focused on: Reducing social spending Reshaping the tax code Rebuilding national defense

Contemporary Conservatism Conservatives support constitutional amendments restricting abortion and permitting prayer in public schools. Policy Stances Abortion: oppose Stem cell research: oppose Gun control: oppose Civil unions/same sex marriage: oppose

Who are the Conservatives? Usually they belong to the Republican Party. While Republican presidents after the Great Depression identified with moderate ideas, Ronald Reagan openly embraced his conservatism. Conservative Liberal Moderate

Radical Ideologies As you move more right or more left, the ideas are more Radical Democratic Socialists Do not accept the capitalist system Big corporations have too much power Economic decisions should be in the hands of the government Conservative Socialists Liberal Moderate

Radical Ideologies Libertarianism Economic system free of governmental interference. Dismantle most welfare programs. They want major changes, peaceful change They enter candidates in elections but rarely win. Liberal Moderate Socialists Conservative Libertarian

Radical Ideologies Totalitarianism Government controls all aspects of social order and the economy Few times (if ever) in history did a state reach “Perfect” totalitarianism, although some came close (ie: Nazi-Germany or Stalin USSR) Liberal Moderate Totalitarianism Socialists Conservative Libertarian

Radical Ideologies Anarchism (Anarchy) No government involvement whatsoever Not even for something simple like a traffic light at a busy intersection Totalitarianism Socialists Liberal Moderate Conservative Libertarian Anarchism

One Dimensional spectrums = Inconsistency What if you favor gov’t programs like welfare (liberal) but are against gov’t regulations on gun control (conservative)? In theory your inconsistent and can’t fit on this spectrum. Totalitarianism Socialists Liberal Moderate Conservative Libertarian Anarchism

Fortunately, there are two distinct Spectrums Order Totalitarianism Anarchism Economy Capitalism Communism Unfortunately, its to hard to look at 2 spectrums when separated

The Two-Dimensional Spectrum Anarchism Libertarian Conservative Economy Totalitarianism Moderate Socialists Liberal Moderate Conservative Libertarian Anarchism Liberal Socialists Totalitarianism Order

The 2D Spectrum: Better identifies ideologies placements