1. Parties & Pressure Groups
Political Ideologies
Parties & Pressure Groups

2. Ideology – Definition(s)
Ideology – “A science of Ideas”…concerned with ideas and search for objective, scientific truth.
Antoine Destutt de Tracy ( )

3. Ideology So ideology is problematic in its definition as it contains…
“…a whole range of useful meanings, not all of which are compatible with each other” (Eagleton, 1991).

4. Ideology definitions…
…may connect ideas about human nature, moral views, beliefs or ideas about empirical “truth”

5. Ideology definitions…
A set of misleading false, misleading beliefs - Marx & Engels (Communist Manifesto).
A closed system of political thought, Karl Popper.
A way of justifying political action (no matter what real motivations are), Selinger, 1976.

6. Ideology & Human Nature
Views about human nature may influence views about the role of the state.
E.g. People prone to self interest at the expense of the majority = Strong state needed to regulate behaviour.
Or…People are best if they manage themselves = minimal state intervention required.

7. Classifying Ideologies
Ideologies have been classified in different ways by political scientists e.g…
Linear model
Political Spectrum
Eysenk’s Model
Horseshoe Model