1. Chapter 2
Modern Ideologies & Political Philosophy

2. “Ideology” philosophy: coherent set of ideas about what ought to be
19th century idea:
people should determine political fate
ideology = philosophy + action program
 what people should do
to make it happen
“isms”

3. Uses of Ideology 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

4. AMERICAN confusion! American ideologies:
“loosely organized, inconsistent, untidy”
“hodgepodge” … no internal coherence
AMERICAN liberalism =
government needs to be active in the
assistance it provides to those in need;
in course, providing services
AMERICAN conservatism =
government should shrink from activities
and permit authority to devolve ...
common morality & common spirituality

5. “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

6. 21st Century Ideologies Tendency to “blend” commitments
“Post-material issues” & objectives
Neo-liberalism & globalization
Historical & religious sources of ideas …

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

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