Ideologies & the Political Spectrum - World History II Honors

ideology

a set of ideas/beliefs shared by a group of people about how society should operate; are connected by a set of ideas, can be thought style or world-view

ideologies exist along a…

spectrum — represents extreme ideas (radical) and less extreme ideas (moderate)

The farther from the center one goes, the more ________ the idea or stance

extreme

The closer to the center one goes, the more ________ the idea or position

moderate

What are the distinct ideas on both sides of the spectrum?

left (liberal), right (conservative)

left

associated with liberal ideologies that favor progress, social justice, and government intervention in the economy.

right

associated with conservative ideologies that favor tradition, limited government intervention in the economy, and a preference for maintaining the status quo.

center

the moderate position on the political spectrum, representing beliefs that are neither extreme left nor extreme right.

moderate

opposed to extreme views or actions, representing a balanced or centrist position

status quo

the existing state of affairs or conditions in society and government

liberal

favors progress/reform, advocating for social change and government intervention to achieve social justice

conservative

often inclined to preserve status quo/existing condition(s), or go back to the way things used to be; favoring gradual change over radical reforms

radical

someone who is looking to make dramatic progress to the status quo; represents/supports a more extreme idea (on the left)

reactionary

someone who is unhappy with the status quo and wants to go back to a much earlier time (on the right)

revolutionary

someone who seeks to create significant, often radical change in society in government through means such as upheaval/overthrowing existing systems (on both left and right)