political ideology

Examples of political ideology in the following topics:

• Ideology

  • In the Marxist economic base and superstructure model of society, base denotes the relations of production, and superstructure denotes the dominant ideology (religious, legal, political systems).
  • Many political parties base their political action and program on an ideology.
  • A political ideology is a certain ethical set of ideals, principles, doctrines, myths, or symbols of a social movement, institution, class, or large group that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order.
  • A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power and to what ends it should be used.
  • Explain the purpose of an ideology and how it is used in various contexts (i.e. religion or politics) to create change or conformity in society

• 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.
  • Generally, peoples' values about the scope and purpose of government can be translated into three main political ideologies: liberals, conservatives, and moderates.
  • As this chart illustrates, not all Americans agree on which should be the predominant political values and ideologies.
  • Differentiate between the political ideologies of liberals, conservatives, and moderates and discuss how they relate to American political values

• Political Ideology

  • People can be motivated to vote based on their political ideology, or how they think government, economy, and society should be structured.
  • Sometimes, people vote based on their political ideology.
  • Political ideologies in the United States vary considerably.
  • Individuals embrace each ideology to widely varying extents.
  • This chart, using Gallup Poll data, depicts trends in US political ideologies from 1992-2012.

• The Spread of Liberal Democracy

  • Liberal democracy requires universal suffrage, competitive politics, and the rule of law and is currently the dominant world political ideology.
  • According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, with the presence of multiple and distinct political parties.
  • At the time, the vast majority of European states were monarchies, with political power held either by the monarch or the aristocracy.
  • Liberalism ceased to be a fringe opinion and joined the political mainstream.
  • By the end of the 19th century, liberal democracy was no longer only a liberal idea, but an idea supported by many different ideologies.

• Likeability of Political Candidates

  • A candidate's liberal or conservative ideology is usually expressed by affiliation with a political party — in the U.S. the Republican Party is understood to be conservative and the Democratic Party is understood to be liberal.
  • A candidate's stated political ideology may be treated as a proxy for their position on a range of policy issues.
  • In large part, this association is supported by political parties' platforms in the U.S.
  • Apart from ideology, less explicit factors such as likeability and access to resources impact candidates' campaigns.
  • However, likeability can be difficult for politicians and political strategists to control.

• Switching Parties

  • Though uncommon, a member of Congress switch parties for either ideological or pragmatic reasons.
  • Political Parties provide various benefits to Members of Congress, including some election support, support in Congress, and positions on various committee.
  • 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.

• Ideological Third Parties and Splinter Parties

  • This means that two major political parties dominate in most elections and consequently dominate elected office.
  • Third parties tend to be more ideological and extremist than the 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.
  • Describe the largest and most significant third parties in American electoral politics

• Principles of Freedom

  • The republican and democratic ideology of the American Revolution grew out of the unique culture of the American colonies.
  • The colonies were exceptional in the European world for their vibrant political culture, which attracted the most talented and ambitious young men in politics.
  • 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

• 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

• 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.
  • The Democratic Party is most associated with a liberal attitude toward politics that emphasizes a more active government role in regulating the economy, ensuring equality, and providing a social safety net.
  • 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.
  • Even with evidence of increasing polarization between political parties, they still encompass a wide range of constituents with varying viewpoints.