IGP Lecture 2

• Ideology


  A value system through which we perceive, explain and accept the world
• Same set of facts can be interpreted "differently" because of one's association with a certain ideology
• All individuals are ideologues in the sense that we all "map out our own interpretations of what the world is and how it should be"
• Ideology


  Seeing the same sets of facts through different lenses
• Whether the world around you is pink or blue is determined by the lens you put on. Ideology plays the same role.
• Ideologies


  • Present a simplified "cause and effect" interpretation of a complex world
  • Provide a theory of human nature that explains basic economic, social and political values
  • Appear to be moral in tone and aspire to perfect our behavior
  • Are often supported by constitutions, manifestos or writings
  • Discuss issues such as leadership, political succession and electoral behavior
• Dominant ideology


  A particular ideology that dominates the political discourse
• Signs that an ideology is dominant

  • The majority of the population accepts the ideology without hesitation
  • The most powerful people in the country (the elites) accept the ideology
  • The existence of a dominant ideology allows a society to keep subordinate groups in check
• Dominant ideologies


  • Support the existing social and political arrangements
  • Carry the message of the elites through the Agents of Socialization (governments, schools, media, families and peer groups)
• Major components of ideologies

  • The state of human nature
  • The role of the individual in society
  • The role of the state
  • The sources and limits of political authority
  • The preferred economic and social order
• Conservatives


  Human behavior is unchangeable. The role of government is to control the undesirable consequences of human behavior
• Liberals


  Humans are inherently good. As a result, we don't need to be so tightly controlled by government
• Role of the individual in society

  Is it the role of the individual to serve the interests of the government, or the role of the government to serve the needs of the individual?
• Communism


  The welfare of the individual is subordinate to the interests of the state
• Liberals


  The role of the government is to provide the conditions for individual freedom. The rights of the individual in many cases takes precedence over the rights of the state.
• Role of the state

  What limits should be placed on individual freedom?
• Most modern ideologies maintain that a strong government (with limits) is necessary in order to maintain social order and living standards
• Anarchism


  The state is essentially a symbol of evil in society. Individual liberty is threatened by the existence of strong government control.
• Political authority in Western democracies

  Derived by the consent of the governed (e.g. through elections)
• Political authority in Fascists and Marxist-Leninists


  Derived by the will of the state or dictators
• Consensus


  Needed in order to guarantee social order and political legitimacy
• Communists


  Private ownership is not allowed. They are committed to providing an equitable distribution of wealth.
• Capitalists


  People need to compete with one another in order to have an incentive for material gain. Economic and social inequalities are allowed to exist.
• Democratic ideologies


  • Liberalism
  • Conservatism
  • Democratic Socialism
• Liberalism


  • Individualism - Individual rights are more important than social groups or collective body
  • Freedom - Individual freedom or liberty is at the core of liberalism
  • Equality - Belief that individuals are born equal, and are equal before the law and politically equal
• Liberalism


  • Puts a strong emphasis on rights, which are privileges or freedoms that can be legally enforced
• Conservatism


  • Tradition - Conserve traditions, respect customs, and institutions that were built over time
  • Religious Basis of the State - Belief in some type of religion or organized faith
  • Human Imperfection - Individuals are morally corrupt, so a strong state and strict laws are required
• Democratic Socialism


  • Social equality - Equality is the central value, advocate for 'equality of outcome'
  • Social class - Often associated with class politics
• Socialism


  Common ownership - Private ownership is seen as promoting selfishness and division. Democratic socialists think the rich should be highly taxed to fund social welfare programs.
• Socialism centers around the idea that humans are social beings and share a common humanity. The community is considered more significant than the individual.
• Political parties


  • Republicans in the US
  • Liberal party in Australia
  • Conservative Party in the UK
  • Democratic
• Socialism


  • Social equality - Equality is the central value of socialists. Advocate for 'equality of outcome' as opposed to 'equality of opportunity.'
  • Social class - Socialism has often been associated with class politics, that people identify themselves based on "income or wealth, race, religion, etc."
• Common ownership


  The Marxist socialists see private ownership as promoting selfishness and division. The democratic socialism think there should be private ownership, but the rich should be highly taxed to use these money to fund social welfare programs like free education and free health, to help the poor
• Socialism


  Humans are social beings and share a common humanity. The community is considered more significant than the individual because it plays a crucial role in shaping people's lives and behavior.
• Fraternity


  The idea that humans share a common humanity, forms a strong bond among people. Socialists prioritize cooperation over competition because it allows individuals to work together, pooling their strengths and energies for the benefit of the community.
• Marxism vs Democratic Socialism


  General perspectives on class struggle and emphasis on the worker are similar. Marxists believe that class struggle will end only if the working class controls the means of production (socialism of distribution). Social Democrats accept capitalist economies but believe in public ownership and state intervention in the economy (socialism of economic production). Where Marxist Socialists advocate for complete control of the economy, Social Democrats believe in the democratic process (elections) and accept private ownership.
• Non-democratic ideologies


  • Communism
  • Fascism
• Communism


  Developed by Karl Marx (1818-1883). The central ideas were the abolition of private property and the re-organization of society in which there would no longer be a separation of society based upon social and economic class.
• Communism


  The root cause of the class struggle is between those who control the Means of Production (The Bourgeoisie), and those who work for them (The Proletariat). The Capitalist Mode of Production, produces social and economic inequalities that are inevitable.
• Communism


  For Marx, a revolution of the workers was inevitable whereby the Proletariat would seize control of the means of production and produce a more egalitarian distribution of resources. Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) developed Marxist-Leninism, an ideology that mixed the economic and social theories of communism with the political arrangement of an autocratic elite.