CH2: POLITICAL IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES - CONTENT

ideology

coherent set of ideas the forms the basis for organize political action whether it is to preserve, modify, or overthrow the current system of power; action-oriented belief system; instrument of social control (pejorative)

technocratic politics

a system of governance where decision-makers are selected on the basis of technological knowledge or expertise in a given area of responsibility

consumerist politics

politics as business wherein politicians act like entrepreneurs in creating products or policies to appeal to the consumers or the people

bourgeois ideology

instrument of social control which creates a false consciousness among the exploited class to prevent the recognition of their oppression

industrialization

major event in world history to which the classical ideologies emerged as reactions to which explains why such have strong economic focus

liberalism

classical ideology which focuses on freedom of the individual and the market

absolutism

liberal description of the status quo; characterized by complete power

feudalism

liberal description of status quo; social system which highlights the relationship of lords and vassals

constitutional and representative government

liberal vision of ideal society characterized by limited government

capitalism

an economic system based on private property and free enterprise to which liberalism is said to be inextricably linked

individualism

key idea of liberalism which focuses on the supreme importance of the person and his/her ability to pursue self-interests

freedom

key idea of liberalism that deals with indulgence of the maximum liberty consistent with a like liberty for all

reason

key idea of liberalism which believes in the ability of individuals to make wise and rational choices on their own behalf

equality

key idea of liberalism which focuses on fairness in opportunity rather than fairness in outcome; espouses meritocracy

toleration

key idea of liberalism which highlights pluralist acceptance of diversity of views deemed healthy as a means of individual liberty and social enrichment

consent

key idea of liberalism which focuses on willing agreement; authority from below grounded in legitimacy

constitutionalism

key idea of liberalism which produces a limited government via the creation of checks and balances articulated in a written code

classical liberalism

strand of liberalism which is atomist, has a negative view on liberty, and disapproves of government intervention; characterized by economic liberalism and laissez-faire capitalism

economic liberalism

belief in the self-regulating nature of the free market, deeming minimal to no government intervention as a guarantee of prosperity

Laissez-faire capitalism

a Smithsonian economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference

modern liberalism

strand of liberalism which is more sympathetic to state intervention, has positive view of liberty; characterized by social/welfare liberalism and regulated capitalism

social/welfare capitalism

capitalist economy in which a legitimate function of government is protection of workers and society from the harmful impacts of free markets; involves extensive regulations of business and worker protections

regulated capitalism

a Keynesian economic system in which the government intervenes to protect rights and make procedural guarantees

conservatism

a classical ideology which focuses on tradition, hierarchy, and authority

tradition

key idea of conservatism which focuses on customs tried and tested, viewed as the accumulation of wisdom of the past and a promotion of social and historical belonging

pragmatism

key idea of conservatism as a disposition inclined towards practical goals and circumstances that espouses a distrust towards the abstract

human imperfection

key idea of conservatism which argues that humans are morally corrupt and need a strong state to maintain order

organicism

key idea of conservatism which views society as a living and natural entity with its various parts contributing to its stability and health

hierarchy

key idea of conservatism which sets gradations of social position and status in society as natural and inevitable

authority

key idea of conservatism which is exercised "from above" and is deemed as a source of social cohesion , giving people a clear sense of who they are and what is expected of them

property

key idea of conservatism which gives people security and a measure of independence from the government; exteriorization of people's personalities

paternalistic conservatism

strand of conservatism which focuses on the principles of duty and social obligation; the powerful and propertied inherit the responsibility to look after the less well-off in pursuit of social cohesion; linked to the idea of compassionate conservatism

One-Nation tradition

a disposition towards social reform and pragmatic economic policy which takes a middle way approach between laissez-faire capitalism and state socialism/central planning; espouses a blend of market competition and government regulation

social market philosophy

philosophy that embraces a market strategy which highlights virtues of private enterprise and competition to gain prosperity for the broader benefit of society

New Right

strand of conservatism which highlights the shift from state to market-orientated forms of organization; creation of a free economy and a strong state

neoliberalism

offshoot of the New Right which advances the rolling back of the frontiers of the state and focuses on the market and the individual; rejects the notion of the nanny state which undermines freedom because of the creation of a culture of dependence

neoconservatism

offshoot of the New Right which emphasizes a return to traditional values and rejects permissiveness; highly skeptical of multiculturalism, and the growing influence of supranational bodies

socialism

classical ideology that disapproves industrial capitalism since it creates social ills that oppress the lower classes

reformist socialism

form of socialism that takes the parliamentary road, engages in constitutional politics; evolution over revolution; founded on ethical socialism and revisionist Marxism which inspired social democracy

revolutionary socialism

form of socialism which espouses the belief that violent action was the only way to achieve the goals of socialism; known as communism

community

key idea of socialism which highlights the degree to which individual identity is fashioned by social interaction; focus on nurture over nature

fraternity

key idea of socialism which focuses on collectivism over individualism which promotes cooperation rather than competition; strengthens bond of community

social equality

key idea of socialism which is an equality of outcome as opposed to equality of opportunity

need

key idea of socialism which forwards that material benefits should be distributed on the basis of necessity rather than merit

social class

key idea of socialism which is the central topic of class analysis; rooted in the unequal distribution of wealth; the abolition thereof is the goal of socialism

common ownership

key idea of socialism which is deemed as the end of socialism or as a means to generate broader equality; collectivization of property

Marxism

general strand of socialism which is a major enemy of Western capitalism

classical Marxism

form of Marxism which posits that the economic base determines the political and ideological superstructure; belief in the dialectic nature of historical change; emphasis in class struggle which leads to proletarian revolution; goal is classlessness and statelessness

orthodox communism

form of Marxism which fuses Marx's and Lenin's political outlooks; emphasizes the need for a vanguard party to assist in the proletariat's transcendence from trade-union consciousness

trade-union consciousness

desire to improve working and living conditions rather than to overthrown capitalism

Neo-Marxism

form of socialism which views humans as active agents of history rather than as passive actors controlled by impersonal deterministic forces; transcends base-superstructure model and class analysis for a more global and multifaceted approach (other than economics)

social democracy

a general form of socialism which acknowledges capitalism as the only means of generating wealth and prosperity; advocates the distribution of wealth on moral rather than market principles; seeks to humanize capitalism via state intervention and seeks for the welfare of the "underdogs"

new social democracy

also known as the third way or neorevisionism; fusion of old style social democracy and neoliberalism with the acknowledgment of globalization, the transformation of capitalism into a knowledge economy, and the role of the state in promoting international competitiveness; "hand up not a hand out"

anarchism

ideology which views the state as evil and unnecessary and posits that individuals are able to manage affairs through voluntary agreement and cooperation; intersection between liberalism and socialism: ultraliberalism and ultrasocialism

individualist anarchism

form of anarchism rooted in the belief that humans would be able to rationally manage affairs, rendering the state as unwanted coercion or interference; linked to anarcho-capitalism

collectivist/social anarchism

form of anarchism which stresses the capacity for social solidarity that arises from our sociable and essentially cooperative natures; basis of mutualism and anarcho-communism

fascism

interwar phenomenon which has an anti-character; focuses on the creation of an organically unified national community to which all individuals are completely absorbed

feminism

ideology that seeks to enhance the role of women; seeks to overturn gender inequality and patriarchy

first wave feminism

wave of feminism referring to the women's suffrage movement

second wave feminism

wave of feminism which highlighted a radical approach to feminism

third wave feminism

wave of feminism which highlighted the politics of difference

liberal feminism

form of feminism which is reformist; seeks to improve the legal and political status of women

socialist feminism

form of feminism which seeks the restructuring of economic life to promote gender equality

radical feminism

revolutionary form of feminism which advocates a sexual revolution; the personal is political

new feminism

form of feminism which emphasizes differences and challenges the conventional notion of gender equality

sex

key idea of feminism which refers to the biological or natural differences between females and males

gender

key idea of feminism which refers to the cultural roles society ascribes to women and men; the distinction thereof is to counter the idea of biology as destiny

patriarchy

key idea of feminism which means rule by the father; existing power structure which favors male power

personal is political

key idea of feminism: a slogan which articulates that politics takes place within all social groups including the domestic such as the family since such is where gender relations are primarily conditioned

gender equality

key idea: goal of feminism but the notion thereof is dependent on the ideological inclination be it legal, political, domestic, or economic equality

politics of difference

key idea of feminism which advocates that women recognize and celebrate the distinctive characteristics of the female sex; rejects notion of genderless personhood advocated by liberal feminists

green ideology

ideology also known as ecologism which is concerned with the damage done to the natural world due to the rapid pace of economic development

ecosocialism

ecologist view that environmental destruction is linked to the capitalist rapacious desire for profit

ecoconservatism

ecologist view that links the cause of conservation to the desire to preserve traditional values and established institutions

ecofeminism

ecologist view that links the ecological crises to male power, reflecting the fact that men are less sensitive than women to the natural processes/natural world

ecology

key idea of green ideology that suggests that a delicate network of interrelationships that had hitherto been ignored sustains each human community and the entire human species

shallow ecology

key idea of green ideology: humanist view of ecology which harnesses lessons of nature to human needs and ends; associated with sustainability and conservation

deep ecology

key idea of green ideology: biocentric view of ecology which places primary importance to the ecosystem

holism

key idea of green ideology: belief that the whole is more important than its parts; understanding is gained by the study of the relationships among the parts of a larger entity

sustainability

key idea of green ideology: capacity of a system to maintain its health and subsist in existence over time; sets clear limits on human ambitions and material pursuits to ensure that production does as little damage as possible to the ecosystem

rejection of conventional ethics

key idea of green ideology: nature as having intrinsic rather than instrumental value

postmaterialism

key idea of green ideology: shift from having to being, from consumerism/materialism to spirituality

cosmopolitanism

ideological expression of globalization

moral cosmopolitanism

form of cosmopolitanism which is rooted in the belief that people have obligations towards other people in the world

liberal cosmopolitanism

offshoot of moral cosmopolitanism which aims to universalize civic and political rights (political and legal liberalism), and market society (economic liberalism); widen individual freedom and promote material advancement

socialist cosmopolitanism

offshoot of moral cosmopolitanism which is rooted in the Marxist belief that proletarian class solidarity has a transnational character; pursuit of global social justice implying a substantial distribution of wealth from the global North to the global South

cultural cosmopolitanism

form of cosmopolitanism which highlights the reconfiguration of values and lifestyles in light of intensified global interconnectedness; people ought to identify themselves as global citizens; shift from nationalism to multiculturalism

mongrelization

form of multiculturalism that emphasizes hybridity and cultural mixing

religious fundamentalism

ideology that posits religion as not limited to the private sphere; reaction to secularism which is said to have weakened society's moral fabric

populism

ideology that portrays society as war conflict between the pure people and the corrupt elite with the former as the only source of moral worth and political legitimacy; anti-pluralist in character

left-wing populism

form of populism which conceive of the people in class terms; tend to prioritize socio-economic concerns such as inequality, poverty, and job insecurity; egalitarian populism

right-wing populism

form of populism which views people in ethnically restricted terms; focus on matters related to identity or sociocultural concerns such as immigration, crime, and corrruption

national populism

offshoot of right-wing populism which emphasizes the culture and interests of the nation

authoritarian populism

offshoot of right-wing populism which emphasizes that imposition of social and moral order, often linked to cynicism about individual rights