Political Ideologies

Some things to think aboutSome things to think about• Four Purposes of a GovernmentFour Purposes of a Government– Maintain Social OrderMaintain Social Order– Provide Public servicesProvide Public services– Provide SecurityProvide Security– Maintain the EconomyMaintain the Economy

• Fundamental Values and ideological conflictFundamental Values and ideological conflict– Liberty vs. orderLiberty vs. order– Equality vs. libertyEquality vs. liberty

Where do you fall?Where do you fall?

American Political Ideologies

Conservatism Restrained Government, active

community and private institutions

Individualism Federalist (states rights) Associated with business interests Higher Military spending Isolationist; strong national

defense Government actively protects

social values Pro-Life Higher religiosity

Liberalism Active government agencies and

institutions Social Welfare Programs Nationalist Position Associated with labor interests Lower military spending Global cooperation and

intervention Little government interference

in society Pro-Choice Lower religiosity, Pro-Choice

The Tea PartyThe Tea Party• Born out of anger over health Born out of anger over health

care bill, excessive government care bill, excessive government spending and debtspending and debt

• Highly antagonistic toward Highly antagonistic toward governmentgovernment

• Economic issues are greatest Economic issues are greatest concernconcern– Bank bailoutBank bailout– Illegal immigrationIllegal immigration– JobsJobs– Role of governmentRole of government

Other Ideologies

On the Right: Classical Liberalism On the Right: Classical Liberalism (libertarianism)(libertarianism)

Reaction to Monarchy: Locke and Smith Belief in Individual

liberty and private property

Limited Government Interference in the Economy – Laissez Faire Autonomy given to

private firms Little to no regulation

or taxation Off Shoots: Democratic

Capitalism, Imperialism, Welfare State Capitalism

On the Left: SocialismOn the Left: Socialism(communitarianism)(communitarianism)

Karl Marx: Communist Karl Marx: Communist ManifestoManifesto Natural Progression of Natural Progression of

Things: Critique of Things: Critique of CapitalismCapitalism““From each according to From each according to his ability, to according to his ability, to according to his need.”his need.”

Democracy of the Democracy of the Common man, no class Common man, no class distinctionsdistinctions

State control of means of State control of means of production, Equal production, Equal distribution of societal distribution of societal goodsgoods

Off shoots: Democratic Off shoots: Democratic Socialism, Communism, Socialism, Communism, the welfare statethe welfare state

TotalitarianismTotalitarianism Communism: Revolutionary SocialismCommunism: Revolutionary Socialism

Consolidates politics into one party ruleConsolidates politics into one party rule Aims to carry out Marxist policies through central Aims to carry out Marxist policies through central

planningplanning Fascism: Post-capitalist Corporatism “Everything Fascism: Post-capitalist Corporatism “Everything

for the state, nothing against the state, no one for the state, nothing against the state, no one outside the state” - Mussolinioutside the state” - Mussolini Key Features: Ultra-Nationalism/Statism; one party Key Features: Ultra-Nationalism/Statism; one party

rule; militarism; corporatismrule; militarism; corporatism Propaganda: selling the ideology, cult of personalityPropaganda: selling the ideology, cult of personality Opposition and undesirables subjugated by secret Opposition and undesirables subjugated by secret

policepolice Islamism: Theocratic FascismIslamism: Theocratic Fascism

Sharia law: has absolute priority over democracy Sharia law: has absolute priority over democracy and universal human rightsand universal human rights

Jihad as means to re-establish the CaliphateJihad as means to re-establish the Caliphate

List of American Political List of American Political PartiesParties

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