ideology

Examples of ideology in the following topics:

• Ideology

  • An ideology is a set of ideas that constitute one's goals, expectations, and actions.
  • In the Marxist account of ideology, it serves as an instrument of social reproduction.
  • Similarly, Louis Althusser proposed a materialistic conception of ideology using the concept of the ideological state apparatus.
  • Many political parties base their political action and program on an ideology.
  • Some parties follow a certain ideology very closely, while others may take broad inspiration from a group of related ideologies without specifically embracing any one of them.

• Ideological Interest Groups

  • Ideological interest groups unite on issues, with their work driven by deeply held beliefs.
  • NOW is an example of an ideological interest group.
  • On the other hand, the Christian Coalition favors a conservative Christian ideology.
  • Some groups fall between being single issue groups or ideological interest groups.
  • Describe ideological interest groups and their role in the policy-making process

• Ideological Third Parties and Splinter Parties

  • Third party politicians tend to be more ideological than Republicans or Democrats because they do not have to play to the American middle.
  • Third parties tend to be more ideological and extremist than the Democrats or Republicans.
  • However, even as these parties are the largest of the third parties, they represent only a fraction of American voters and are more ideologically oriented than Democrats or Republicans.
  • Beyond the Libertarian, Green, and Constitution Parties, third parties in American politics tend even farther towards the fringe, emphasizing ideology and avoiding speaking to a broad base.
  • Some third parties are organized entirely around one issue, rather than seeking to enact a broad, fringe ideology.

• Uniting Competing Factions Within the Party

  • Democratic and Republican Parties have historically taken ideologically ambiguous positions in order to attract a wide range of supporters.
  • The two major Democratic and Republican Parties in the United States have historically been ideologically ambiguous in order to accommodate citizens representing a broad spectrum of interests.
  • Instead of adopting polarizing ideological views, the Democratic and Republican Parties stand for the core American values of liberty, democracy, and equal opportunity that appeal to many Americans.
  • Some have even contended that American parties have become more ideologically distinct in the last three decades as party leaders begin to express polarized opinions on national issues.

• Political Ideology

  • Sometimes, people vote based on their political ideology.
  • Political ideologies in the United States vary considerably.
  • The size of ideological groups varies slightly depending on the poll.
  • Individuals embrace each ideology to widely varying extents.
  • This chart, using Gallup Poll data, depicts trends in US political ideologies from 1992-2012.

• From Political Values to Ideology

  • Core American political values general fall in line with one of three political ideologies: liberalism, conservatism, or moderate.
  • People then choose a political ideology that most closely matches their values.
  • People who value change and a greater emphasis on collective equality tend to relate to the ideology of liberalism.
  • Moderates hold an ideology somewhere in between liberalism and conservatism.
  • Also in this chart, it is evident that people align with different ideologies at different points in time.

• Switching Parties

  • Though uncommon, a member of Congress switch parties for either ideological or pragmatic reasons.
  • Political parties also serve as ideological homes for Members, and voters are often more attached to a party than to any given candidate.
  • Some members might switch due to ideological differences with their party.

• Liberalism

  • Liberalism is a broad political ideology or worldview founded on the ideas of liberty and equality.
  • Liberalism, from the Latin liberalis, is a broad political ideology or worldview founded on the ideas of liberty and equality.
  • Neither ideology adopted the pure Classical Liberal belief that government exists to protect both social & economic civil liberties.
  • These ideologies — as with liberalism — fractured into several major and minor movements in the following decades.
  • Social democracy, an ideology advocating progressive reform of capitalism, emerged in the 20th century and was influenced by socialism.

• Superpower Rivalry

  • After WWII, the U.S. and the USSR became the two sole superpowers, opposing each other ideologically, politically, and economically.
  • The U.S. and the Soviet Union opposed each other ideologically, politically, militarily, and economically.
  • The Soviet Union promoted the ideology of communism, which was characterized by a planned economy and a one-party state.
  • In contrast, the United States promoted the ideologies of liberal democracy and the free market.

• Principles of Freedom

  • The republican and democratic ideology of the American Revolution grew out of the unique culture of the American colonies.
  • Republicanism, along with a form of classical liberalism, remains the dominant ideology.
  • Among the core tenets of this ideology are the following:
  • Evaluate the ideologies that shaped American political culture and influenced the American Revolution