Understanding Political Ideologies

Ideology - a coherent worldview about how the world or a society should be organised, which
in turn shapes a person’s specific preferences on individual issues.
a) systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture.
b) a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture
c) the integrated assertions, theories and aims that constitute a socio-political program
d) is a more or less coherent set of ideas that provides the basis for organized political
action, whether this is intended to preserve, modify or overthrow the existing system of
power.

Political ideology- a set of beliefs and ideas that defines and advances a certain idea of what
society and government is or what it should be.
a) It outlines the role of the government and the economy in society
b) It proposes ideas regarding the most effective government, and the social and economic
structure that will enable the state to uphold its principles and realize its goals.
c) is a set of related beliefs about political theory and policy held by an individual, group of
individuals or a particular social class
d) form the basis of how they view the world around them and the proper role of
government in the world.
e) (a)offer an account of the existing order, usually in the form of a ‘world-view’, (b)
advance a model of a desired future, a vision of the ‘good society’, and (c) explain how
political change can and should be brought about- how to get from A to B.

Four functions of Ideology

a) It explains how society and politics are organized and how various aspects of politics
works.
b) It evaluates whether a certain political action or program is good or bad.
c) It orients those who subscribe to it to have a sense of identity and direction.
d) It provides a program or plan of action that will about political change.

The Political Spectrum- a graphic representation of political ideologies along a line from left
to right.
The concept of the political spectrum is where we get the popular terms “let-wing, right-wing
and centrist” when discussing political views.
- Leftist ideologies advocates ideas including value for individual freedom over government
control
- Rightist ideologies advocates ideas emphasizing government power and authority, often at
the expense of individual freedom

Socialism Liberalism Neoliberalism

Reactionism
Social
Anarchism Centrism Conservatism Fascism
Democracy
Ideology

Political Ideology

A systematic body of concepts especially about human life

or culture

A manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an

individual, group, or culture

The integrated assertions, theories and aims that

constitute a socio-political program

Is a more or less coherent set of ideas that provides the

basis for organized political action, whether this is
intended to preserve, modify or overthrow the existing
system of power.

Is a set of related beliefs about political theory and policy

held by an individual, group of individuals or a particular
social class

Form the basis of how they view the world around them
and the proper role of government in the world.

It (a)offers an account of the existing order, usually in the

form of a ‘world-view’, (b) advance a model of a desired
future, a vision of the ‘good society’, and (c) explain how
political change can and should be brought about- how to
get from A to B.