1. POL 101: U.S. Government
Dr. Kevin Lasher

2. Understanding
IDEOLOGY

3. IDEOLOGY Definitions Classical/philosophical ideology
20th/21st Century American ideology

4. Ideology Makes Sense of Complexity

5. Definition of Ideology
Ideology is a mental framework for thinking about governmental, economic and social systems
Ideology is a “political” mind-set

6. Definition of Ideology
Ideology is a simplification or a short-cut
Good: Helps us to make sense of complicated political world
Bad: Leaves out certain details

7. IDEOLOGY Definitions Classical/philosophical ideology
20th/21st Century American ideology

8. Classical Ideology Thinking about political changes in Europe of 1700s
Coming of capitalism/industrialization, individual rights and “democratization”
Break-down of elitist, precapitalist societies
Radicals and reactionaries came much later

9. Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
Classical Ideology
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
STATUS QUO
Existing political, economic, social arrangements

10. Classical Ideology: Conservatism
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
Conservatives want slow, limited change.
They “like” the existing arrangements.
STATUS QUO

11. Classical Ideology: Liberalism
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
Liberals want moderate, significant change.
They “like” and “dislike” existing arrangements.
STATUS QUO

12. Classical Ideology: Radicalism
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
Radicals want revolutionary change.
They “hate” existing arrangements and want to “destroy” them.
STATUS QUO

13. Classical Ideology: Radicalism
Radicals appear in 1800s (after capitalism)

14. Classical Ideology: Reactionary-ism
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
Reactionaries want retrogressive change.
They “dislike”existing arrangements and want to return to an earlier system.
STATUS QUO

15. Classical Ideology: Reactionary-ism
Reactionaries appear in 1900s

16. Classical Ideology Problems
Ideology is defined in relation to the “status quo.”
The “status quo” is a constantly changing phenomenon.

17. Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
New Deal Programs
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
STATUS QUO

18. Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
New Deal Programs
Existing
Programs
Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
STATUS QUO

19. Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
Civil Rights Programs
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
STATUS QUO

20. Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
Civil Rights Programs
Existing
Programs
Radicals Liberalism Conservatism Reactionary
STATUS QUO

21. IDEOLOGY Definitions Classical/philosophical ideology
20th/21st Century American ideology

22. Classical
Ideology

23. Late 20th/Early 21st Century American Ideology
Not so concerned with “change”
More concerned with broad “attitudes” toward governmental action

24. American Ideology: Themes
Attitude toward government regulation of U.S. economy
Attitude toward government regulation of personal issues

25. Government Regulation of Economy?

26. Government Regulation of Economy: FOR
Government has an important role to play in managing-regulating the U.S. economy
Social welfare programs
Progressive taxation
Environmental laws, civil rights laws, laws to protect workers and consumers

27. Government Regulation of Economy: AGAINST
Government regulation of U.S. economy should be “minimized”
Excessive regulation stifles economic growth
Market forces can “solve” many problems facing society
NOT “laissez-faire” capitalism

28. Government Regulation of Personal Matters?

29. Government Regulation of Personal Matters: FOR
Government has an important role to play in regulating-controlling people’s personal lives
Close church-state relations desirable
Government “promote” law & order, traditional values, nuclear family

30. Government Regulation of Personal Matters: AGAINST
Government should “stay out of” people’s personal-moral lives
Wall of separation of church and state
People can make own decisions about morality, sexual behavior, raising children, entertainment
NOT lawlessness or immorality

31. American Ideologies Liberalism Conservatism Libertarianism
Populism (Communitarianism)

32. Government Intervention in Economy
American Ideology
Government Intervention in Economy
FOR AGAINST
Government
Intervention
in Personal
Matters
AGAINST
FOR
LIBERALS
LIBERTARIANS
POPULISTS
CONSERVATIVES

33. Government Intervention in Economy
American Ideology
Government Intervention in Economy
FOR AGAINST
Government
Intervention
in Personal
Matters
AGAINST
FOR
LIBERALS LIBERTARIANS
POPULISTS CONSERVATIVES
confused?
“leave me alone”
“take care of me”
confused?

34. Government Intervention in Economy
American Ideology
Government Intervention in Economy
FOR AGAINST
Government
Intervention
in Personal
Matters
AGAINST
FOR
LIBERALS LIBERTARIANS
POPULISTS CONSERVATIVES
Moderates

35. “Typical” Ideological Division
(Left) (Center) (Right)
Liberals Moderates Conservatives
Economic Issues?
Personal Issues?
Economic and personal issues?

36. (Left) (Center) (Right)
Economic Issues
Personal Issues
Populists
Populists
(Left) (Center) (Right)
Liberals
Moderates
Conservatives
Libertarians
Libertarians
Personal Issues
Economic Issues

37. To Be
Continued