Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Philippine Politics and Governance

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph Grade Level/Section: HUMSS 12
Module 2 – Pol Sci Subject Teacher: Erwin John E. Resurreccion

IDEOLOGIES
For this module, we will talk about political ideologies that influence political behavior and governance on the
state. We will also analyze how ideologies work as well as how they manifest themselves through the different
elements.

Learning Objectives:
A. define political ideology;
B. distinguish the different political ideologies; and
C. analyze how ideologies affect political behavior.

The term “ideology” came from the French word ideologie which Ideology in Politics
means “science of ideas,” and it was conceived by French Political ideology is a set of ideas
philosopher Destutt de Tracy. Simply put, ideology is a set of that are combined in a variety of
related ideas or a systematic group of concepts and beliefs about ways to guide, inspire, or incite
culture, society, and human life. Often, ideologies dictate how the people to political action.
society should be structured.

All people are political thinkers. Whether they know it or not, people use political ideas and concepts whenever
they express their opinions or speak their mind. Everyday language is littered with terms such as ‘freedom’,
‘fairness’, ‘equality’, ‘justice’ and ‘rights.’ In the same way, words such as ‘conservative’, ‘liberal’, ‘socialist’,
‘communist’ and ‘fascist’ are regularly employed by people either to describe their own views, or of others.
However, even though such terms are familiar, they are seldom used with any precision or a clear grasp of their
meaning. What is ‘equality’? What does it mean to say that all people are equal? Are people born equal, should
they be treated by society as if they are equal? Should people have equal rights, equal opportunities, equal
political influence, equal wages? Similarly, words such as ‘communist’ or ‘fascist’ are commonly misused.
What does it mean to call someone a ‘fascist’? What values or beliefs do fascists hold, and why do they hold
them? How do communist views differ from those of, say, liberals, conservatives, or socialists?

CHARACTERISTICS OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES (by Heywood)

1. It offers lenses for the socio-political condition of a state, often in the form of a worldview;
2. It provides a model of a desired future, a vision of a good society, and
3. It outlines how political change can and should be brought about.

A unifying set of political ideas and values can develop naturally within a society. However, it can also be
enforced from above to manufacture obedience and thereby operates as a form of social control. The values of
elite groups such as political and military leaders, government officials, landowners or industrialists may
diverge significantly from those of the masses. Ruling elites may use political ideas to contain opposition and
restrict debate through a process of ideological manipulation.

TYPES OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES

Elements of Liberalism
A. LIBERALISM
 Individualism
It is a political ideology that gives importance to the fulfillment of the
 Freedom
individual through the satisfaction of his interests. It views individuals to be
 Reason
born equal, equipped with reason, and have their own rights. Therefore, this
 Equality
 Toleration Page 1 of 3
 Consent
 Constitutionalism
 Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Philippine Politics and Governance
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph Grade Level/Section: HUMSS 12
Module 2 – Pol Sci Subject Teacher: Erwin John E. Resurreccion

ideology believes that individuals must be allowed the greatest latitude of freedom. Liberalism can be
characterized by the following elements:

1. Classical Liberalism – It does not encourage the interference of the state on individual life as humans can
take care of themselves.
2. Modern Liberalism – It believes that if individuals are not subject to regulation, there might be injustices.
Therefore, the state must intervene to protect individuals from social evils.

B. CONSERVATISM Elements of Conservatism

It is an ideology that has the desire to preserve institutions and is  Tradition
reflected in a resistance or suspicion to change. For conservatives,  Pragmatism
tradition reflects the accumulated wisdom of the past, as manifested in  Human Imperfection
the practices that have endured the test of time.  Organicism
 Hierarchy and Authority
 Property
C. SOCIALISM
It is an ideology that stands in opposition to capitalism and proposes an
alternative which is perceived to be more human and equitable. In Elements of Socialism
capitalism, an individual rises according to ability. There is competition.  Community
Unfortunately, this produces divisions in society; some become rich, while  Fraternity
most struggle to survive and remain poor. The goal of socialism is to  Social Equality
 Need
abolish these class divisions and promote equality by advocating
 Social Class
cooperation.
 Common Ownership

D. ANARCHISM
It is an ideology based on the belief that government and laws are not necessary, and personal autonomy is a
must. For anarchist, the government is evil because it exercises coercive authority, which violates the freedom
and equality of individuals. Hence, they prefer a stateless society in which free individuals take charge of their
own affairs through voluntary agreement and cooperation.

E. COMMUNISM
It is an ideology based on common ownership, which aims to establish a society that is classless and egalitarian.
Communists believes that private ownership of wealth and means of production promotes inequality and other
social evils. Hence, they advocate common ownership and giving of the means of production to the
government.

1. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’ Communism – The first version of communism that advocates the
abolition of private-owned property. It sees a future society where before achieving full communism, there
would be a transitory “socialist” stage of development characterized by the revolutionary dictatorship of the
proletariat (working class); Marx and Engels prophesized that this would occur after capitalism is
overthrown.
2. Orthodox Communism – A second version of communism is based on what was established when the
communist parties rose to power in the 20th century. It is a hybrid of state socialism and market capitalism
which resulted to gigantic strides in economies (e.g. China, Russia, and Vietnam).

F. FASCISM Doctrines of Fascism

 Racial and/or cultural purity
(ethnocentrism)
 Total control of society and
people by the state Page 2 of 3
 Presence of one ruling party
 Militarization of the society
 Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Philippine Politics and Governance
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph Grade Level/Section: HUMSS 12
Module 2 – Pol Sci Subject Teacher: Erwin John E. Resurreccion

It is a political ideology fueled by extreme nationalism. It promises the birth of a new, stronger, and greater
society, stripped from all of its weaknesses.
1. Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany – He established a one-party dictatorship in Germany. Hitler attempted to
promote German nationalism and demonize the Jews with his anti-Semitic propaganda. His policies directly
ignited the Second World War and caused the Holocaust.
2. Benito Mussolini, Italy – He was an Italian politician, journalist, and leader of the National Fascist Part in
Italy who coined the term “fascism.” Mussolini portrayed the primacy of the Italian nation.

G. FEMINISM
It is an ideology based on a common desire to enhance the social role of women in whatever way possible. It
seeks to overturn the structure of male power in the society and promote equal rights and legal protections for
women.
1. First Wave (1848 to 1920)– The first sustained political movement dedicated to achieving political
equality for women: the suffragettes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
2. Second Wave (1963 to the 1980s) – It focused on changing the way society thought about women. The
second wave cared deeply about the casual, systemic sexism ingrained into society — the belief that
women’s highest purposes were domestic and decorative, and the social standards that reinforced that
belief — and in naming that sexism and ripping it apart.
3. Third Wave (1991[?] to ???) – It is tended to involve fighting against workplace sexual harassment and
working to increase the number of women in positions of power.

REFERENCES:
 Campanilla, M. & Dannug, R. (2003). Politics, Governance and Government with Philippine Constitution:
C & E Publishing, Inc.
 Heywood, A. (2002). Politics Second Edition: Palgrave Macmillan
 Mendoza, D. et al (2014). Politics and Governance Theory and Practice in the Philippine Context. Office of
Research and Publications: Ateneo de Manila University.
 Ramos, R. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance: Vibal Group, Inc.

Page 3 of 3