Major Political Ideologies and Concepts Lecture

Vocabulary flashcards covering the principal ideologies, theories, thinkers, and key political science concepts discussed in the lecture.

Ideology

A set of beliefs about how society should be organized and governed.

Liberalism

Political philosophy emphasizing freedom, equality, individual rights, democracy, rule of law, and civil liberties.

Classical Liberalism

Branch of liberalism focused on individual freedom, free markets, private property, and minimal state interference.

Social Liberalism

Modern liberalism that supports individual rights but endorses government intervention (welfare, education, healthcare) to improve lives and reduce inequality.

Neoliberalism

Contemporary form of classical liberalism favoring global trade, privatization, and reduced government spending.

Socialism

Political-economic theory seeking individual freedom and welfare through public or community ownership of key industries to reduce inequality and oppose capitalism.

Democratic Socialism

Blend of democracy with social ownership; free elections plus extensive public services such as free healthcare and education.

Marxist Socialism

Revolutionary socialism that argues capitalism must be overthrown to create a classless society.

Utopian Socialism

Vision of a peaceful, cooperative society where resources are shared without the need for revolution.

Communism

Extreme socialism in which all property is publicly owned and people work according to ability and receive according to need; aims for a stateless, classless society.

Marxism

Karl Marx’s political, social, and economic theory that history is shaped by class struggle and workers should overthrow the bourgeoisie to establish a classless society.

Classical Marxism

Interpretation of Marxism based directly on Karl Marx’s original writings.

Leninism

Vladimir Lenin’s adaptation of Marxism advocating that a small vanguard party must lead the workers’ revolution.

Maoism

Marxist ideology emphasizing the revolutionary role of the peasantry rather than solely the industrial working class.

Neo-Marxism

Modern updates of Marxism that include culture, media, and identity, not just class economics.

Utilitarianism

Ethical theory stating an action is right if it promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Act Utilitarianism

Version of utilitarianism that judges each individual act by whether it creates the most happiness.

Rule Utilitarianism

Version of utilitarianism that follows rules which, in general, lead to the greatest happiness.

Jeremy Bentham

Founder of utilitarianism who measured morality in terms of pleasure versus pain.

John Stuart Mill

Philosopher who refined utilitarianism by distinguishing higher (intellectual) pleasures from lower pleasures.

Gandhism

Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of truth (satya), non-violence (ahimsa), self-reliance, simplicity, and service.

Ahimsa

Gandhian principle of non-violence in thought, word, and deed.

Satya

Commitment to truth in speech and living, central to Gandhism.

Swaraj

Self-rule; the idea that people should govern themselves morally and politically.

Trusteeship

Gandhi’s idea that the rich hold their wealth in trust for society’s benefit.

Swadeshi

Gandhian concept of self-reliance through use of local goods and support for the rural economy.

Sarvodaya

‘Welfare for all’; Gandhi’s vision of universal uplift, economic equality, and decentralized village communities.

Political Animal

Aristotle’s view that humans naturally live in communities and engage in politics.

Polis

Greek city-state; basic political unit in Aristotle’s analysis.

Politics

Process of making decisions that apply to a group, involving power, leadership, and law-making.

Polity

Society organized through the exercise of political authority.

Anti-Politics

Disillusionment with traditional politics shown in non-participation, support for anti-system parties, or direct action.

Authority

Right to command obedience within a society.

Legitimacy

Voluntary acceptance of political power by a community.

Legitimate Authority

Widely recognized legal and moral right of a government to rule a specific population.

Order

Desired arrangement of society based on principles such as liberty, equality, stability, and security.

Social Contract

Idea that individuals implicitly agree to form a civil society and accept moral and political obligations.

Government

Institutions and persons that make and enforce rules or laws for a community.

Republic

Form of government in which sovereignty resides in the people and is exercised by elected representatives.

State

Independent political unit that controls territory, commands allegiance, and monopolizes legitimate coercive force.

Sovereignty

Supreme authority of a state to govern itself without external control.

Country

Geographic area with borders, permanent population, government, and the capacity to create and enforce laws.

Nation

Group of people sharing language, culture, history, and identity, not necessarily with their own state.

Nation-State

Country where the majority of inhabitants belong to the same nation and hold political authority.

Stateless Nation

Nation that lacks an independent state of its own and lives across several countries.

Justice

Fair distribution of rewards and burdens in accordance with what is deserved.

Nation-Building

Process of forging a common identity and sense of belonging to a political community.

Political Literacy

Ability to think, speak, and act intelligently about politics.

Political Science

Systematic study of politics, government systems, public policy, and power.

Methodology

Set of methods scholars use to investigate political phenomena.

Positivism

Approach insisting that social inquiry should rely on observable, scientific facts, avoiding metaphysics.

Behaviorism (Political)

Study of politics emphasizing observable behavior and empirically based analysis.

Normativism

Approach that focuses on values, principles, and what ought to be in politics.

Executive Issuances

Official orders, proclamations, or rules made by the executive branch to carry out or clarify laws.

Political Scientist

Expert who studies politics, government systems, public policy, and political behavior.

Plato

Ancient Greek philosopher who described an ideal state and founded the Academy in Athens.

Aristotle

‘Father of Political Science’ who classified political systems and emphasized empirical study.

Niccolò Machiavelli

Renaissance thinker who analyzed power and leadership in ‘The Prince’.

John Locke

Philosopher who advocated natural rights and influenced democratic theory.

Karl Marx

Thinker who analyzed class struggle and founded Marxism.

Max Weber

Sociologist who studied authority types, bureaucracy, and modern government.

Rational Choice Theory

Model that explains political behavior as logical actions driven by self-interest.

Political Realism

View that power and national interest, not morality, are the primary factors in politics.

Political Culture

Moral values, beliefs, and myths that give meaning to political life and motivate citizens.

Civic Education

Teaching citizens how their government works and their rights and responsibilities.

Comparative Politics

Field that contrasts and evaluates different governments and political systems.

Political System

Set of institutions and processes by which demands are converted into authoritative decisions and actions.