Ideology

Ideology

A set of principals or ideas that explains your world and your place within it.

Individualism

a current thinking that values the freedom and worth of the individual over the security and harmony of the group

Collectivism

a current thinking that values the goals and common good of the group over any one individual

Beliefs and Values

important aspects of identity that influence behavior and choices, and that guide people in their interactions with others and how they view the world (culture, languages)

Political spectrum

First came into use shortly after the French revolution (late 18th century), a way of comparing/visualizing political beliefs by placing them on an axis

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equality and change is left wing

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liberty and limited govt. is right wing

Free Market

economy that operates within a limited govt. intervention and relies on the choices that rational individuals make in their own self-interest

Radical

extremist of political left- wants immediate change and prepared to use violence

Moderate

Someone who is generally satisfied with status quo, includes liberals who support progress & change, and conservatives who resist change in favor of traditions

Reactionary

extremist of political right- reject change, favor the imagined or real glories of the past

Extreme right and Left

Fascists and Communists, favor total govt. control to achieve their objectives

Socialists

far left near communism, govt has significant role in controlling vital industries and agencies. Emphasis on being peaceful and orderly

Liberals

Moderate left/centrist, believe that the govt. has a role in shaping better society

Conservative

Moderate right, believe that govt. should be limited

Anarchists

people who are distrustful of govt, should be abolished

Totalitarianism

A state rules by a single leader/party that has total control over all functions. Citizens are expected to give their full allegiance to their govt. (Communist or Fascist- also known as authoritarian, words starting with an a, one party state, etc)

Thomas Hobbes

English philosopher during the English Civil war.

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Described man’s state of nature as “solitary, brutish, nasty, poor, short”

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Should be one sovereign ruler who sacrafices all liberty for peace and security.

John Locke

English philosopher

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believed people are able to make intelligent, rational, reasonable decisions (radical idea)

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govt should protect life, liberty, property. Should be justified by popular consent of the people

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Swiff philosopher from France, which has a rigid class structure.

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People are inherently good, been corrupted by civilization and society. Humans are naturally free and equal

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Ideal stat was one where the general will of the people was absolute authority. (against Representative democracy-- elected people representing a group of people)

Fascists

reject political freedoms in a state that glorifies leadership and national objectives

Communists

Reject political and economic freedoms in order to create a classless society

Libertarians

reject govt. intrusion of citizens and collective values. “people should do what they what if they don’t harm others”, more right than conservatives

Fiscal conservative

believes in free markets, limited govt, and low taxes

Social Liberal

Believes in issues such as minority rights

characteristics of ideology

\-What are humans like, and why do they act as they do?

\-how should society be organized?

\-how has the world worked in the past?

\-How should it work in the future?

Classical Liberalism

ideology that embraces the principals of individuals (less govt)

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promotes

\-rule of law

\-individual rights & freedoms

\-private property

\-economic freedom

\-Self interest

\-competition

The Enlightenment

The beliefs of classical liberalism arose in Europe following the renaissance and reformation from the 14th-16th centuries

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sparked a belief in the importance of the individual, and reflected the belief that the reason was as significant as faith for the believer in Christianity.

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Both helped promote the rise of **this movement** beginning late 17th century-18th century. 

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helped promote the beliefs of classical liberalism that has taken shape into the liberal ideology of the 19th century

Humanists

believed in the importance of the arts and literature alongside faith

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developed an interpretation of human history and beliefs abt human nature, structure of society, and purpose of life based off reasons other than religion

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TIMELINE

→ in the late 14th century in Italy and France, a group of thinkers (humanists) emerged during the Renaissance.

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→ The protestant Reformation of the 16th-17th century dramatically altered the political, economic, and social circumstances of Europe thru its opposition of the C. Church's corruption. faith in rationality of the individual began to grow.

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→ The beliefs of classical liberalism arose in Europe following the renaissance and reformation from the 14th-16th centuries.

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→ sparked a belief in the importance of the individual

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→ helped promote the rise of **Enlightenment** beginning late 17th century-18th century. 

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→ The Enlightenment helped promote the beliefs of classical liberalism

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→ By the 17th century, there was conflict with the emergence of new ideas of logic and and reason over faith.

\-religious wars, destroyed aristocracy, gained rights for the middle class entrepreneur

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Classical Liberalism focused on allowing citizens the right to freedom in their economic, political, and social lives.

Montesquieu

Enlightenment thinker in France

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Believed in equality and worth of individuals, accountability of govt- divided into executive, legislative, and judicial branches

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these branches would need a democracy to work (radical idea)- each branch dependent on each other so one would not exceed the other.

John Stuart Mill

English philosopher

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interested in protection of individual freedom and the promotion of individual decision making (classical liberal thinker)

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advocated free speech, womens rights, “do what you wish as long as youre not harming anybody”

Traditional Economy

an economic system practiced by pre-industrial revolutionized society.

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Needs are met thru agriculture, hunting, and fishing- along with a division of labor based on custom and tradition

Industrial revolution

around 1750 the industrial revolution had caused Britain's traditional economy to become industrialized. led to a commercial fleet and the worlds most powerful navy at the time. Forced low income farmers into the city for cheap labor. the writings of the Enlightenment thinkers came together in Great Britain.

• new ideas about human potential and individual worth, and the accompanying idea of progress

• a govt. friendly to business and innovation

• a huge amount of investment capital and cheap labor, innovators and inventors encouraged by the possibility of reward.

this resulted in the development of the factory system, mechanism of labour, etc. Also produced extreme wealth and poverty, excess and starvation, estates and slums, worker abuse, ecological issues, etc.

Laissez-faire economics

Leave the people alone to do as they wish-

economic system that referred to reducing government involvement in the economy.

physiocrats

A group of enlightenment philosophers in France who critiqued the prevailing economics of mercantilism

their notion of laissez-faire reflects their beliefs that

• individuals need to be given freedom to make their own decisions

• individuals selfishness and competitiveness will inadvertently improve their own societies.

Merchantilism

a system that said all economic pursuits should be to strengthen the power and wealth of the state

Adam Smith

Scottish political economist

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spent time in French with the physiocrats. Disagreed with mercantilism

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Believed if people worked for themselves, everyone would be better off

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foundation for much of the capitalist system and free market, limit govt, and basis of laissez-faire

Despotism

similar to Authoritarianism and autocracy, dictatorships, etc. A country or political system where the ruler holds absolute power- a cruel or oppressively way (starts with a d)

plutocracy

a country or society governed by the wealthy, elite, or ruling class whose power derives from their wealth

Social contract

an implicit agreement among the members of society to cooperate for social benefits (ex: sacrificing individual freedom for state protection)

Sources of Identity

\-Family influence (acceptance or reject of their early influence)

\-Gender Beliefs (women voting habits democratic over men, reasonings as to why)\\

\-Religious and Spiritual shaping (against it, for it)

\-Environment (climate change, carbon emissions, green parties)

\-Relationship to Land (territory, Indigenous perspectives, think Rural Alberta farming vs city. worldview) 

\-Language and Ideology (Being english speaker vs speaking a minority language, ex: quebec)

Hegemony

a political control exerted by one group over others

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**context:**

as new media emerged in the 20th century, the idea by Canadian theorist Marshall McLuhan claimed that "the medium is the message" (the form of communication is more important than the actual content) Individualism ideas would become more a "global village" of collectivism with the rise of electronic media, but not in a good way. In fact, that it would be used against them to establish a form of totalitarian control.

Pluralism

a multicultural society compromised of diverse cultural, religious, linguistic, or ethnic groups. or, in political context, promotes the acceptance of diversity in a society.

Economic Equality

Means many things, can mean people with larger incomes pay more taxes, equal wages, sharing wealth, own the means of production collectively, no private property.

Labour movement

the effort by organized labor to improve conditions for workers. Collective interest is the basis for the organized labor movement, which began in the industrial revolution

Collective responsibility

holding the whole group responsible for the actions if individuals within the group