Notes on Political Ideologies

Definition

• Political ideology: a set of beliefs about how society should work, providing a blueprint for social order.

Two Dimensions of Political Ideologies

• Goals: how society is organized.
• Methods: the most appropriate way to achieve the goal.

Major Ideologies (concise definitions)

• Absolutism: Rulers have unlimited control.
• Anarchism: Society without government, laws, police, or other authority; self-governed.
• Aristocracy: Privilege held by a class with disproportionately large wealth, prestige, and political influence.
• Autocracy: Supreme political power concentrated in one person; decisions unregulated.
• Capitalism: Private ownership of the means of production and distribution; market-driven.
• Communism: Revolutionary socialism; collective ownership and a planned economy; [each should work to their capability and receive according to their needs].
• Conservatism: Maintain existing institutions; free enterprise; minimal governmental intervention.
• Democracy: Government by the people, usually through elected representatives.
• Dictatorship: Government by a single person with absolute control over the state.
• Egalitarianism: All citizens have equal rights and privileges.
• Fascism: Extreme right-wing ideology; protection of the existing social order through forcible suppression of the working class.
• Imperialism: Extension of power beyond established geographical boundaries.
• Liberalism: Representative government, free speech, abolition of class privilege, and state protection of the individual.
• Marxism: Developed by Marx and Engels; history of class struggle; overthrow of the system through revolutionary change.
• Maoism: Interpretation of Marxist communism emphasizing agricultural development.
• Monarchy: Rule by a King or Queen.
• Nationalism: Unification of the state and release from foreign rule.
• Oligarchy: Power held by a small number of wealthy people who shape policy for their benefit.
• Populism: Redistribution of political power and economic leadership to the common people.
• Socialism: Left-wing; means of production, distribution, and exchange in common ownership.
• Theocracy: Rule by the church.
• Totalitarianism: Government control of all activities.
• Trotskyism: Form of Marxism incorporating the concept of permanent revolution.

Classroom Activity (Roll the Die)

• A die is passed around; when the music stops, the holder answers a prompt related to the pictures shown (range 1–10).
• Objective: determine and differentiate ideologies; apply knowledge during the activity.