Ideology is a controversial political term that has often carried pejorative implications. In the social-scientific sense, a political ideology is a more or less coherent set of ideas that provides a basis for organized political action. Its central features are an account of existing power relationships, a model of a desired future, and an outline of how political change can and should be brought about. Ideologies link political theory with political practice. On one level, ideologies resemble political philosophies, in that they constitute a collection of values, theories and doctrines; that is, a distinctive world-view. On another level, however, they take the form of broad political movements, and are articulated through the activities of political leaders, parties and groups Every ideology can be associated with a characteristic set of principles and ideas. Although these ideas 'hang together', in the sense that they interlock in distinctive ways, they are systematic or coherent only in a relative sense. All ideologies thus embody a range of rival traditions and internal tensions. Conflict within ideologies is thus sometimes more passionate than that between ideologies.

1. POLITICAL IDEAS
AND IDEOLOGIES

2. • In the social-scientific sense, ideology is a coherent set
of ideas which provide a basis for organized political
action
• Central features:
1) Account of existing power relationships
2) A model of a defined future
3) An outline of how political change can and should be
brought about
• Competing definitions: Marxist, Liberal, Conservative
The nature of ideology

3. • Key ideas: individualism, freedom, reason, equality,
toleration, consent, constitutionalism
• Classical liberalism: a commitment to an extreme form of
individualism; belief in ‘negative’ liberty
• Modern liberalism: characterized by a more sympathetic
attitude towards state intervention; a broader ‘positive’
liberty which is linked to the personal development and
flourishing of the individual
Liberalism

4. • Key ideas: tradition, pragmatism, human imperfection,
organicism, hierarchy, authority, property
• Paternalistic conservatism: often linked to the idea of
‘compassionate conservatism’ – consistent with ideas of
hierarchy and duty. (Disraeli’s One-Nation principle)
• The New Right: Can be traced back to 1970s – born out
of apparent failure of Keynesian social democracy and
concern about social breakdown
- Neoliberalism (economic strand)
- Neoconservatism (social strand)
Conservatism

5. • Key ideas: community, fraternity, social equality, need,
social class, common ownership
• Socialism developed as a reaction to industrial
capitalism and became associated with the interests of
the growing working classes. Its goal was to abolish the
capitalist market economy and replace it with a society
constructed on the basis of common ownership
• There are many elements of socialism, ranging from
Marxism through to social democracy
Socialism

6. • Fascism
• Anarchism
• Feminism
• Green politics
• Cosmopolitanism
Other Ideological Traditions

7. • Postcolonialism
• Religious fundamentalism
• Asian values
• Beyond dualism
Non-western ideological trends