1. PowerPoint Supplement Richard P. Farkas, DePaul University
POWER & CHOICE An Introduction to Political Science 14th Edition W. Phillips Shively, University of Minnesota
PowerPoint Supplement
Richard P. Farkas, DePaul University

2. Modern Ideologies and Political Philosophy
Chapter 2
Modern Ideologies and Political Philosophy

3. “Ideology”
an organized set of related ideas that modify and support one another
European birthplace for several ideologies
“isms”

4. Uses of Ideologies Simplify processing of ideas: filter
Connect people to other people
Umbrella for mobilization
Shorthand for packaging pol. ideas
Glue that ties ideas together
Guide decisions

5. AMERICAN confusion! American ideologies:
“loosely organized, inconsistent, untidy”
… no internal coherence
… constantly migrating
shaped by squeezing into coalitions rather than by any intellectual reasoning

6. AMERICAN liberalism = government needs to be active in the
assistance it provides to those in need;
…. in measure, providing services
aggressively defends freedom of expression
classically suspect of “elites”
exercising power

7. AMERICAN conservatism =
government should shrink from activities and permit authority to devolve ...
maintain an efficient, minimally regulated economy; fiscal prudence
advocate common morality & common spirituality

8. “Classic” Ideologies Who Should Make Decisions?
LIBERALISM
develop individual capacities to the fullest
 American liberalism & conservatism = variants
CONSERVATISM
tradition, maintain ordered community,
press for common values
SOCIALISM liberalism but …
FASCISM conservatism but …
COMMUNISM depends on normative vs. empirical vision

9. Origins of Classic Liberalism
invented by intellectuals
result of general artistic & scientific restlessness
practical pressures from large scale commerce & industry

10. Principles … classic liberalism
People must be maximally responsible for their own actions and circumstances
Liberals see politics as choice
As many choices as possible should be kept private
The sphere of politics should be limited
Champion: John Stuart Mill

11. Origins of Modern Conservatism
reaction to the advent of Liberalism
rationale for maintaining traditional European political structures
rationale for maintaining centralization of power and military establishments
caution about transfer of political responsibility to the common man

12. Principles of Modern Conservatism
People must be maximally responsible for their own actions and circumstances
belief that society is MORE than the sum of the individuals in it
greatest good possible in community
order, structure, community and all things that reinforce and maintain it
web of social responsibilities
Champion: Edmund Burke

13. Socialism working class and unions Karl Marx
class as basis of society, government, history
working class oppressed by capitalist class
working-class revolution inevitable in industrialized countries
Democratic socialism: western Europe
Communism: USSR

14. Fascism Hitler in Germany; Mussolini in Italy
Rejection of modern ideas
Antisocialist and anticapitalist
Opportunist politics
Violence and oppression of opponents
Hitler and the Holocaust
World War Two ended most organized fascism

15. 21st Century Ideologies tendency to “blend” commitments
“post-material issues” & objectives
(the environment)
neo-liberalism & globalization (economics)
historical & religious sources of ideas …
(fundamentalism)
relevance of class
comfort with welfare state

16. Religion & Political Thinking
Religions are ideologies
Because “God given,” resistant to compromise
Resistant to “blending” with other ideas
Often evokes strong emotions
For some, religious identity coexists with many other identities
For others, primary identity shaping all others

17. The CLASSIC Ideological Continuum
LEFT________________________RIGHT
Liberal _________________Conservative
Anarchist _________________Monarchist
Locus of Power
Individual_____________ State
Choice ______________ Power

18. Juxtaposing ideologies ... Test your understanding: RIGHT or LEFT?
liberalism
conservatism
socialism
fascism
communism
(Marx’s concept)
(Stalin’s reality)
feminism
anarchism
environmentalism
militarism
Bureaucracy
/ governmentalism
Religion / spiritualism
Law / legalism
welfare
/ humanitarianism