POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES

Ideologies
are the sets of basic beliefs about the political, economic, social and cultural affairs held
by the majority of people within a society.
It connotes a set of doctrines or beliefs that are shared by the members of a social group
or that form the basis of political, economic, or other system.
They guide the information of political pattern or subculture that becomes an acceptable
political norm or leaning over time.
Political Ideologies
generally, refer to a set of ideals, principles, institution, or large group that explains how
society should work, and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social
order.
A political ideology has two dimensions:
1. Goal- how society should be organized
2. Method- the most appropriate way to achieve this goal. In every desired goal, there is a
corresponding method.
Ideologies act as filters; supporters used to interpret events, explain human behaviour,
and justify political actions.
It is any set of predictable ideas held by politicians and citizens or how to serve public
good.
Classified into three groups:
1. Anti-Government Ideologies
2. Right-Wing Ideologies
3. Left-Wing Ideologies
Anti-Government Ideologies
1. Anarchism
-protest against the traditional belief that law, government, and the state are vital to the
human person
- The central point of anarchism is the belief that all forms of political authority are evil and
futile.
- The term was derived from the Greek word Anarkos which literally means without rule.
- Anarchism wishes to eliminate nationality and create a society where people rule
themselves solely through their own accord and cooperate with each other to advance
their interests.
2. Nihilism- Nihilism- glorifies destruction as an end in itself, rather than as a means to
overthrow the existing system or rebuild society. This is because Nihilism revolves around the
belief that man exists for no purpose.
Right Wing Ideologies
These are ideologies that oppose change, looking into the past for wisdom.
It is not uncommon for some people to be afraid of change, especially if they have seen a
more effective type of ruling.
The goal of these types of ideologies is to have order and peace.
1. Monarchism
Wants to centralize authority and political order to one person, letting that person exercise
all the power alone which will lead the people to something good or into a dead end.
According to Aristotle, monarchism deems to be the best form of government, if it is ruled
by a wise king, not a tyrant.
At present, monarchism could still be seen in some countries such as
Brunei
 United Arab Emirates
Vatican City
2. Capitalism
This ideology is fuelled by the phrase Greed is good, coming from the sentence Greed,
for lack of better word, is good.
an economic and political system in which a countrys trade and industry are controlled by
private owners for profit, rather than by the state.
The term capitalism was first introduced in the mid-19th century by Karl Marx, the founder
of communism.
Free enterprise and market system are terms also frequently employed to describe
modern non-Communist economies.
Sometimes the term mixed economy is used to designate the kind of economic system
most often found in Western nations.
The individual who comes closest to being the originator of contemporary capitalism is the
Scottish philosopher Adam Smith, who first set forth the essential economic principles that
undergird this system.
In his classic An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776), Smith
sought to show how it was possible to pursue private gain in ways that would further not
just the interests of the individual but those of society as a whole.
The Principles of Capitalism
1. Private Ownership- This means that the employment, services, prices and production
are solely decided by the owners of their respective private sectors.
2. No legal limit on the accumulation of Property- This ideology gives individuals the right
to amass unlimited wealth, and that the government should not imposed any
unnecessary restrictions, for the laws of supply and demand are what best regulates
the economy. Its belief is that wealth signifies success and reward.
3. Free Market No government intervention in the economy. No government
intervention/regulation in the economy because it destroy the capitalist system, and,
hence, individualism and liberty. Economic freedom promotes political freedom
because it separates economic power from political power and in this way enables the
one to offset the other.
Advantages
1. It elevates our virtue of freedom and independence.
2. It lets our minds be creative to be able to invent something new or innovate what has
previously been made to make it more functional.
3. It aims to make money and have as little as possible government involvement.
Disadvantages
1. extremes of wealth and power, the power such wealth gives its owners over the political
processes,
2. extreme inequality between employer and employee
3. Could lead to corruption, tax evasion, and abuse of power.

Other Right-Wing Ideologies 1. Fascism 2. Nazism

Nazism
Nationalism, ethnicity and racism is practiced, as seen in how the Nazis looked to
themselves as the race superior to the Jews, and which action led to the Holocaust, just
because they felt the need to exterminate them because of their inferiority to the Nazis.

Left- Wing Ideologies

 These are ideologies that promote human beings to live together as a whole without
separations like those of social barriers which classifies people to be either in the upper-
class or lower-class, or even in the middle class.
the aim of this side is to have social equality, to support those who are considered to be in
a disadvantage compared to others, and also to abolish the injustices about inequalities.

Liberalism
An ideology which central theme is about: commitment to the individual, desire to
construct a society where people can satisfy their interests and achieve fulfillment.
Liberalism forwards the idea that individuals are naturally endowed with reason and as
such, be allowed to enjoy the maximum possible freedom.
It gives emphasis on merit. This means that though individuals have equal legal and
political rights, they must be rewarded according to their talents and willingness to work.

What are its central values?

Individualism: Is the belief in the supreme importance of the individual over any social
group or collective body. Society should be constructed so as to benefit the individual
giving moral priority in individual rights, needs and interests. Individuals should be seen as
end in themselves.
Freedom: Is a consequence of the supreme belief in the individual. For Liberals, this is the
supreme political value and in many ways the unifying principle. For Liberals, freedom is
the only state where individuals can fully develop their skills and potentials.
Reason- Came about from the desire of the enlightenment to Release humankind from its
bondage to superstition and ignorance. Liberals believe that reason is innate but not to
the extent that it is infallible. However, it opposes restrictive paternalism that prevents
individuals from developing. It gives emphasis on the importance of discussion, debate
and argument.
Justice- Denotes a particular kind of moral judgement about the distribution of rewards
and punishments. Human beings are seen as born equal and is of equal moral worth.
Liberalism vigorously disapproves of a system of privileges that are enjoyed by a few and
denied to everyone else. For Liberals, arbitrary assignment of privileges through
irrational standards like gender, race, color, creed, religion or social background is an
injustice. They believe in equality of opportunity, that every individual must be given the
chance to rise and fall within the ranks of society paving the way for the system of
meritocracy. For them, merit is the only just basis for granting more privileges.
Toleration- The Liberal social ethic is characterized by a willingness to accept and in some
cases celebrate moral, cultural and political diversity. Is rooted on the assumption that
humans and separate and unique creatures, since toleration is a guarantee of personal
autonomy. Toleration is necessary to strike a balance among conflicting interests and to
create harmony.
Constitutionalism-Although liberals agree about the need of a Government, they are also
aware of the dangers it poses against freedom. For Liberals, power naturally corrupts and
if it isnt regulated or checked, it can be abused. Power tends to corrupt and absolute
power corrupts indefinitely Lord Acton
Liberals believe in a limited government and this can only be achieved through
constitutional constraints that ensure:
The Rights of the Governed
The Rule of Law
Checks and Balances