Political and State Ideology

Prepared by: Riza M. Gabaya

Nature of Ideology

 Contemporary governments, if not politics, are usually shaped and influenced by ideologies. In abstract, ideology
is a blueprint to improve society.
 Political ideology is the coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by
groups and individuals. It is the means by which the basic values held by a party, class, group or individuals are
articulated.
 In social-scientific sense, ideology is a political doctrine “more or less a coherent set of ideas that provides a basis
for organized political action” whether it is intended to preserve, modify or overthrow existing systems of power
relationship. (Heywoods, 2002).

Goals of Ideology

1. Ideology has been employed as a political weapon to outdo or smash opposing creeds or political beliefs.
2. Ideology or the prevailing belief system in a state may be articulated and propagated to support, oppose or justify
existing political, social or economic scenario or to support, oppose or rationalize attempts by some interested
parties or groups to either change or abandon the current state of affairs.
3. Ideology is used as a philosophy to rationalize for current or future political and social arrangements.
4. Ideology links up to political theory with practice.

Classification of Ideology

1. Liberalism
The origin of political ideologies from the ideas of liberalism. Liberalism in truth was both the political and
economic ideas of the industrialized West. At times, liberalism was viewed as meta ideological which is capable of
integrating broad aspects of rival beliefs. Essentially, liberalism is a political dogma that in the later stage
developed into an economic idea in the 19th century.

Characteristics of Liberalism

a. Freedom d. Reason
b. Equality e. Consent
c. Individualism f. Toleration

Kinds of Liberalism

a. Classical Liberalism

Liberals advocate atomism, a belief that society is made up of largely self-sufficient individuals
who owe little or nothing to one another.

b. Modern Liberalism

Contemporary liberalism postulates liberal participating of the state over the economic affairs
of the people.

2. Conservatism
As school of thought, conservatism emerged during the late 18th century. It came to exist as a result of the
economic and political change and in defense of an increasingly beleaguered conventional social order. According
to Safire, a conservative “is a defender of the status quo who, when change becomes necessary in tested
institutions or practices, prefers that it comes slowly, and in modernization.”

Characteristics of Conservatism
a. Tradition e. Human Imperfection
b. Authority f. Property
c. Pragmatism g. Hierarchy
d. Organicism
 Kinds of Conservatism

a. Classical Conservatism

This doctrine maintains the belief of preserving the tradition of existing state of affairs and
institutions, or keeping the status quo with very minimal or no change at all its structures and
belief system.

b. Modern Conservatism
Modern conservationism allows a certain degree of change in the organization ang
institutions yet keeping the essence of its belief system in high spirit. Modern conservatives
are also traditional concerning women’s and homosexual rights.

3. Socialism
Socialism became a political ideology in the 19th century. It came to exist as a response against the
emergence of industrial revolution. Socialism aimed primarily to wrestle the fate of ordinary artisans and
craftsmen who were threatened by the onset of industrial capacity or the ability of the factories to flood the
market of maximum production; later it centered on the working conditions of the industrial workers. Socialism is
a social organization that adheres to ownership and control of capital, industry and land by the community as a
whole.

Characteristics of Socialism
a. Economics c. Common Ownership
b. Social Class d. Social Equality

The concept of Karl Marx on socialism resulted from the society divided into two major classes, the bourgeoisie
(the elites) and the proletariat (the working classes). Marx conceptualized that the proletariat will overthrow the
bourgeoisie and establish a just productive society without class distinctions.

Characteristics of Marxism
a. Communism c. Surplus Value
b. Proletariat Revolution d. Class struggle

4. Social Democracy
Social democracy at the turn of the 19th century championed the cause of balancing the interests of the
markets and the state, between the individual and the community since it lacks persuasion toward liberalism
and fundamental socialism. It shows therefore that social democracy accepts capitalism for generating wealth it
also, on the other hand, manifests desire to redistribute wealth consistent with moral principle.

Other Ideological Traditions

1. Fascism
 Fascism is a political ideology with strong centralized power, permitting no opposition or criticism
against the constituted government, controlling all the affairs of the nation, emphasizing and
aggressive nationalism and anti-communism (Webster).

2. Anarchism
 Anarchism has rather drastic ideology that calls for the abolition of government restraints as
indispensable requirement toward total political and social freedom.

3. Feminism
 Feminism as a political ideology developed numerous teachings and philosophies but with common
denominator that is to enhance through whatever means the social and political role of women.
Feminism belief that the society is characterized by sexual and gender inequality, and the dominance
of male power over women should be reversed.

4. Environmentalism
 Rapid industrialization, urbanization and globalization breed a new dimension of emerging ideology,
this time the care and protection of the environment (ecology) for the future generation.

5. Religious Fundamentalism
 From the Latin Fundamentalism, meaning base, fundamentalism as an emerging ideology is a system of
thought in which certain beliefs or principles are regarded as essential knowledge or truths that have
infallible and overlapping authority, regardless of their contents.