Ideologies and Historical Context

Ideology & Culture

  • Ideology: Ideas/beliefs related to politics/society.

  • Culture: Patterns of behavior and expression.

  • Environment: Area where people live.

  • Gender: Views on roles of men/women.

  • Language: Communication through words.

  • Media: Spreading information.

  • Relationship with the land: Resource extraction.

  • Spirituality: Personal sense of universe's nature.

Individualism vs. Collectivism

  • Totalitarianism: Absolute power by a ruler.

Characteristics of Collectivism

  • Economic Equality: Fairness in economics.

  • Cooperation: Working together.

  • Public Property: Owned collectively.

  • Collective Norms: Culturally established rules.

  • Collective Interest: Common objectives.

  • Collective Responsibility: Individuals accountable for others' actions.

Characteristics of Individualism

  • Economic Freedom: Prosperity without government intervention.

  • Competition: Rivalry among sellers.

  • Private Property: Owned by non-government entities.

  • Rule of Law: Restriction of arbitrary power.

  • Self-interest: Personal advantage.

  • Individual Rights and Freedoms: Freedom within societal standards.

Key Thinkers

  • John Stewart Mill (1806–1873):

    • On Liberty: People free unless actions harm others.

    • Favored free speech/press.

    • Opposed majority rule; against oppression.

  • Adam Smith (1723–1790):

    • The Wealth of Nations: Opposed mercantilism.

    • Trade benefits all. Labour benefits economy.

    • Invisible Hand: Unintentional benefits of self-interest.

    • Laissez-Faire economics.

Other ideologies and concepts

  • Urbanization: Becoming more like a city.

  • Socialism: Increased government control in the economy, collective control of production, economic equality.

  • Liberalism: Individual rights/freedoms, based on Mill & Smith.

  • Marxism: Class struggle leading to socialism.

Historical Events/Terms

  • The Bolsheviks: Hard-line communists led by Vladimir Lenin.

  • Kulaks: Rich peasants in the Soviet Union.

  • Holomodor: Famine in Ukraine (1932–1933).

  • Purges: Arrests/executions of dissenters.

  • NKVD: Soviet secret police.

  • Treaty of Versailles: Post-WWI treaty with Germany (1919).

  • Hitler's Party: National Socialist German Worker's Party.

  • Untermenchen: Slavs, Jews, Romani. "Sub-humans"

  • Appeasement: Meeting demands to maintain peace.

  • Superpower: Powerful nation (politics, economics, military).

  • Sphere of Influence: Area dominated by a superpower.

  • Proxy Battle: Warring via supported fighters.

  • Warsaw Pact: Soviet/Eastern Europe defense agreement.

  • Iron Curtain: Barrier between Soviet bloc and West.

  • Containment: Preventing hostile expansion.

  • Deterrence: Discouraging attack via military power.

  • MAD; Mutual Assured Destruction: If one superpower attack each other it will result in destruction.

Other concepts

  • as, zx. Brinksmanship: Intimidation by moving to brink of war.

  • Detente: Easing of relations.

  • NPT 1968: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (190 countries).

  • SALT I 1972: Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (limit missile launchers).

  • ABM Treaty 1972: Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (limit missile defenses).

  • SALT II 1979: Restrain arms race.

  • Environmentalism: Opposes harm to ecosystems.

  • Sharia Law: Laws within a religious framework.