Philippine Politics & Governance

First Quarter
Module No. 2 of 6
Political Ideologies
Writer: Roland R. Agra

HONOR CODE
AS A MEMBER OF THE NAMUAC ACADEMY EAGLES FAMILY, I WILL CONDUCT
MYSELF WITH INTEGRITY & SINCERITY AT ALL TIMES, DEMONSTRATE COMPASSION &
JUSTICE IN ALL MY ACTIONS, UPHOLD THE VALUE OF EXCELLENCE, AND ABIDE BY THE
EXPECTATIONS SET FORTH IN THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.
I MAKE THIS PLEDGE IN THE SPIRIT OF HONOR & TRUST.

PERFORMANCE TASK IN POLITICS & RELIGIONS

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. clearly identify a specific political phenomenon and how it can be studied

TRANSFER GOAL
1. the students on their own and in the long run will show awareness on the relationships between
politics and religions to understand and analyze social, political and religious differences in the
community

GOAL To show awareness on the relationships between politics and religions

ROLE Sociologist, political analyst/scientist
AUDIENCE Sociology and political science students
SITUATION The university in your locality is celebrating an interfaith dialogue to
promote understanding and brotherhood among students who belong to
different sects and have various political inclinations. As a respected
professor in sociology, politics and religion, you were invited to share your
narrative on the influence of religion to a specific political phenomenon.
PRODUCT Slideshow, narrative report, video presentation
STANDARDS Content, accuracy, organization of ideas

21ST CENTURY SKILLS CORE VALUE TASK

CRITICAL THINKING Excellence Show awareness on the relationships between
politics and religions
CREATIVITY
COLLABORATION Justice The learners will work together to come up with a
compliant product
CROSS CULTURAL Compassion Learners will analyze materials from various socio-
UNDERSTANDING political and religious perspectives.
COMPUTER/ICT
CAREER/SELF RELIANCE
COMMUNICATION Integrity The learners will present the details they gathered.

HUMSS Politics & Governance Q1 M2

 SCORING RUBRIC FOR THE PERFORMANCE TASK
CRITERIA 4 3 2 1
Content The product clearly The product The product The product
conveys an conveys conveys a conveys little
understanding understanding limited or no
of the issue; of the issue; understanding understanding
excellent use uses of the issue; of the issue;
of appropriate appropriate attempts to does not use
symbolism; title symbolism; title use symbolism;
is clear, clever, is clear and symbolism; title is missing.
and relevant to relevant to title is unclear
topic. topic. or irrelevant to
topic.
Accuracy The product is The product is The product is The product is not
accurate and has no mostly focused and somewhat focused and has
errors. accurate, focused and many errors.
Relevant details and has some contains a few
and quotes enrich good details and errors/
the central theme. quotes.
Organization of The product is well The product is The product is The product is
Ideas organized. It has organized. The somewhat hard to follow.
clear transitions and ideas follow a organized but The ideas have
the with ideas a logical sequence. a little hard to no coherence.
following follow. The
a logical sequence. transitions are
sometimes not
clear.

EXPECTATION
S
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. identify the basic tenets of major political ideologies (i.e., liberalism, socialism, conservatism,
etc.);
2. differentiate political ideologies;
3. examine the relationship between political ideologies and configurations of political communities;
4. critique ideas that have a direct impact on how we try to manage ourselves as a political
community; and
5. analyze how political ideologies create an impact on the social and political life of Filipinos.

PRE-TEST
Each level displays four pictures linked by one word - your aim is to work out what the word
is from a set of letters given below the pictures. Listed below are jumbled letters describing to the
different ideologies. Arrange the letters to get features of each ideology.

HUMSS Politics & Governance Q1 M2

1.
_______________________________

I I G G R A L
E D N O Y N O

2.
_______________________________

C P I A C I S
A T S F L M M

_______________________________

3.
M M F E M E N S
S A L E M I N I

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 _______________________________

4.
A F H S I I A M
M R A S C C S N

_______________________________

5.
A S P I O T I O A L
A N T I I C N M S T

OVERVIEW

An ideology is a system of political beliefs; an action-oriented set of political ideas. Many define
ideology as the world view of a particular social class or a social group; the ideas of the ruling class. The
term ideology was first coined by Antoine Destutt de Tracy during the French Revolution. He referred
ideology to the new science of ideas.

In social studies, a political ideology is a certain set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, myths
or symbols of a social institution, class or large group that explains how society should work and offers
some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order. For instance, President Duterte has
described himself as left- leaning during his campaign and presidency, but has stressed that he was not
a communist, but a socialist.

A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power and to what ends it should
be used. Some political 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. The
popularity of an ideology is in part due to the influence of moral entrepreneurs, who sometimes act in
their own interests. Political ideologies have two dimensions: (1) goals: how society should be
organized;and (2) methods: the most appropriate way to achieve this goal.

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 LESSON PROPER

The Role of Ideas

Why did the Filipinos march against the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in what became known as
the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution? Why did people do the same during the time of former
President Joseph Estrada in 2001? What are the reasons behind the Million People March in 2013?
There must be some motivating ideas behind their actions.

Ideas, however abstract they may seem, govern individual behavior. While they are not
ideologies by themselves, they constitute a part of the raw material needed to create one coherent
doctrine. How did the individuals who participate in rallies and protests illustrated in the figures below
perceive the existence of inequality and injustice during their time? How did they look at equality? What
for them is justice? Surely, these political ideas are not merely a passive reflection of their personal
interests because these inspired and guided them in their political action.

Fig. 2.1 Protesters during the EDSA People Power in 1986

Source: http://i35.tinypic.com/xqakwg.jpg

Fig. 2.2 Calls for Erap’s resignation

Source: http://www.indolentindio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/gabriela.gif

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 Fig. 2.3 Calls for the abolition of pork barrel
Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/Gngz8mxWcwA/UhrI209KrSI/AAAAAAAAGQ0
/XK2LnOTkVtc/1600/banner3.png
As what has been highlighted earlier, political theory and political practice are inextricably linked.
Political ideas did not come out of nowhere. They are shaped and continuously reshaped by current
socio-historical, economic, and political circumstances. Whether you are conscious or not, your behavior
is guided by a set of ideas, beliefs, or value systems you adhere to. At a more general level and at a
definitely larger scale, political ideas shape the nature of political systems and serve as glue that binds
societies together.

The Nature of Political Ideology

An ideology is more or less a coherent setof ideas that direct or organize a specific political
action (Heywood 2013). It consists of belief and value systems, a discussion of existing power
relationships, an exploration of how political changeis achieved in line with these power relations, and an
illustration of a desired future. The following are several definitions of political ideology according to
Heywood (2013).
• A political belief system
• An action-orientated set of political ideas
• The ideas of the ruling class
• The world-view of a particular social class or social group
• Political ideas that embody or articulate class or social interests
• Ideas that propagate false consciousness amongst the exploited or oppressed
• Ideas that situate the individual within a social context and generate a sense of collective
belonging
• An officially sanctioned set of ideas used to legitimize a political system or regime
• An all-embracing political doctrine that claims a monopoly of truth
• An abstract and highly systematic set of political ideas

Before focusing on the major political ideologies, it is important to present first the spectrum of
political attitudes. Whether an individual is radical, liberal, moderate, conservative, or reactionary is
largely represented by his or her political values and beliefs in political change. You must have heard
before the term’s leftist or rightist, and you might have wondered what they really mean in political
discourse. Each of the political attitudes mentioned are positioned in a linear spectrum as shown in the
figure below either on the left, on the middle, or on the right. Thus, to be a leftist means being supportive
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of the values on the left of the spectrum, while being a rightist means espousing the value of those on
the right.

Radical Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary

Left Right

The spectrum of political attitudes (Baradat 2012)

Radical Liberal Moderat e Conservative Reactionary

Left Right

status quo

The status quo in the political spectrum (Baradat 2012)

Each of these is an advocate of a particular political value and possesses a political attitude
about changing the status quo, or the existing conditions. Given the illustration, to be considered a leftist
means supporting the causes of those on the left of the spectrum, where the radicals and the liberals are
located. These groups advocate changes in the status quo. The conservatives and the reactionaries, on
the other hand, are located on the right side. The conservatives are the most supportive of the status
quo, which lies between the conservatives and the reactionaries. The reactionaries, like the
conservatives, are reluctant to progressive change. Therefore, the farther one is from the status quo, the
more dissatisfied he or she is with it, and hence more likely to be supportive of fundamental changes.
The closer a person to the status quo, the less likely he or she is going to call for change.

Regarding values, people on the left of the spectrum emphasize political liberty, social change,
human equality, and human rights; while those on the right revere authority, tradition, elitism, and property
rights (Baradat 2012). With these values and attitudes about change, the different major political
ideologies can be positioned in the spectrum and be labeled as radical, liberal, moderate, conservative,
and reactionary.

This linear spectrum of political attitude is criticized for not being able to accommodate other
groups. What are the other ways by which attitudes are presented in a political spectrum? Who are those
considered to be part of the “center”? Where do terrorists, religious fundamentalists, and military
adventurists fall?

Major Political Ideologies: Key Ideas and Theories

In this section, you will learn the basic tenets of the classical ideologies (liberalism,
conservatism, and socialism) and other ideological traditions that emerged as a reaction to these
classical ones. To review, it was mentioned that these ideologies offer a specific lens on how to see the
political world. The following presents a way of looking at this world, particularly in terms of power
relations, the type of change that is sought and ways on how to achieve it, and a view of the desired
future.
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 Major Political Ideologies and Their Key Tenets (Heywood 2013)
Major Political
Ideologies Key Tenets

• Belief in individualism underscores the importance of the human

individual compared to any other group.
• Liberty of the individual must be protected. An individual has
freedom when he or she is able to act as he or she pleases.
• Reason can lead individuals to make wise judgments, which could
solve issues or differences.
LIBERALISM • Equality implies that individuals are born equal, at least in moral
terms. Equal rights and entitlements are at its core. It must be noted,
however, that liberals do not endorse social equality or equality of
outcome.
• Tolerance is the willingness of individuals to allow others to think
and behave in ways they do not approve. It is a guarantee of
individual liberty.
• Authority and social relationships must also be based on agreement
or consent.
• Tradition must be conserved. These traditions include established
customs, institutions, and ways of doing things that have endured
through time.
• The belief in pragmatism highlights the limits of human reason. As a
belief, pragmatism emphasizes that action should be shaped by
practical circumstances and goals.
• Human imperfection presents the pessimistic view of conservatives
on the individual. Accordingly, individuals are morally corrupt and
CONSERVATISM are therefore the sources of crime and disorder. Order could thus
be achieved through a strong state.
• Conservatives believe that society is an organic whole and is a
living entity, more than being an artifact of human ingenuity. This
belief is known as organicism.
• Conservatives also believe that social position and status are only
natural. With this, hierarchy is thought to be inevitable.
• Authority must be exercised from above. Leadership is provided to
guide and support those who lack knowledge and education and
those who have little capacity to act for their own interest.
• Conservatives look at property as significant because it is the
individual’s source of security and independence from the
government.
• Belief in the community highlights the degree to which the individual
is connected with others. Identity is therefore a product of social
interaction more than innate qualities.
• Brotherhood or fraternity speaks of a shared common humanity.
Socialists thus prefer cooperation rather than competition and
SOCIALISM collectivity rather than individualism.
• Socialists put primacy on social equality over other values. This is
believed to be the basis for social stability and cohesion.
• Socialists look at society in terms of differences in the distribution of
income or wealth. Social class is believed to be an important social
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 cleavage, which divides societies. The interests of the working class
and the oppressed should be upheld. With this, eradicating
economic and social inequalities is deemed as the primary goal of
socialism.
• Common ownership is also central to socialist thought. Unlike
private property, common ownership is a means to harness material
resources for the common good.
• Historical materialism or the materialist conception of history
provides that the economy (mode of production) conditions all other
aspects of social life—including the law, government, politics,
education, etc. The dialectic, a process of interaction between
competing forces, drives change and leads to a higher stage of
MARXISM development. Historical change is therefore a consequence of
contradictions in the mode of production, as reflected in class
conflict.
• The exploitation of the proletariat (workers) by the capitalists
(owners of the means of production) would develop class
consciousness among the former, hence ushering a proletarian
revolution which will facilitate the creation of a communist society.
• A communist society—one that is classless and stateless—will
arise when class antagonisms fade.
• Social democrats stand for a balance between the market and the
state, and between the individual and the community.
• This ideology promotes compromise between the acceptance of
capitalism and the distribution of wealth according to moral, rather
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY than market principles.
• Social democratic thought is concerned with the weak, the
vulnerable, and the underdog.
• Compassion, common humanity, freedom, equal opportunities,
paternal duty, and care are among the values social democracy
recognizes.
• Fascism is an ultranationalist ideology. As such, it subscribes to the
idea
• of a supreme race, whose members should enjoy the natural
resources. It is by nature exclusive as it excludes nonmembers of
the race.
• Fascism was manifested during Mussolini’s fascist dictatorship in
FASCISM Italy and Hitler’s Nazi dictatorship in Germany.
• Common values upheld are struggle, leadership, power, heroism,
and war. The “new man” or a hero who is motivated by duty, honor,
and selfsacrifice; and gives unrelenting obedience to the supreme
leader is a fascist ideal.
• Fascism has an anti-character: antiliberalism, anti-individualism,
anticapitalism, etc.
• Fascists believe in a unified national community or strength through
unity. As such, individual identity is not as important as that of the
social group or community.

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 • The state, or any political authority, is seen as both evil and
unnecessary.
• Anarchists prefer a stateless society. Individuals can best manage
ANARCHISM their own affairs through voluntary agreement and cooperation.
• Anarchism is thus at the intersection of liberalism and socialism.
• Feminism is diverse but its unifying theme is the desire to enhance
the social role of women.
• Society is characterized by sexual or gender inequality.
FEMINISM • The structure of male power must be overturned, hence the belief in
gender equality.
• Its strands include liberal feminism, socialist feminism, and radical
feminism. There are also “new feminisms” that emerged.
• This ideology is linked with the emergence of environmental
movement. It also rose as a revolt against industrialization.
• It is concerned with the damages brought by economic development
and by the declining quality of human existence.
GREEN POLITICS/ • Conventional ideologies are a vehicle of ecologism. Ecosocialism
ECOLOGISM looks at the destruction of the environment due to capitalism;
ecofeminism traces this crisis to male power; and ecoconservatism
links the cause of conservation to the desire to preserve tradition and
institutions.
• Ideological expression of globalization
• It is a belief in a cosmopolis or a world state. It is thus associated
with the project of world government.
COSMOPOLITANISM • Modern cosmopolitanism tends to have a moral or a cultural
character, believing that the world constitutes a single moral
community.
• Cosmopolitanism focuses on the idea that all other people in the
world have obligations to each other regardless of nationality,
ethnicity, and the like.

WRAP- UP

You have learned the importance of ideas in shaping the behavior of an individual at the micro
level and the society at large. Political ideologies are powerful such that they shape the structure of a
society—the institutions and the ways of doing things. These ideologies are comprised of beliefs and
value systems that give rise to political processes; they also constitute ideas about change and its desired
future. Ideologies vary from the classical to the contemporary ones. These ideologies have different
perspectives on various issues, but also have similarities on a number of respects. The relevance of
these ideologies rises and falls depending on their significance to explain current social, political, and
economic circumstances.

While the larger portion of the Philippine society is not motivated by any ideology, several groups,
political parties, and sections of the country espouse certain ideologies. As Buendia (1992) claimed, these
organizations and their ideologies continue to compete in offering solutions and programs of government
to respond to the nation’s problems.

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 VALUING

One may ask how political ideologies have affected Philippine politics and society. According to
Buendia (1992), ideologies are critical in a country’s political life as they make and unmake regimes and
governments. He continued, “in the Philippines, ideologies remain to be sharpened and fashioned to the
country’s needs and demands for development. Many of the solutions proposed by various ideologies
are shaped by the way the national problems are defined or seen” (p. 64).

Which values and beliefs materialized in the course of Philippine political history? Has liberalism
triumphed over other beliefs in the country? Or has communism weakened in the Philippines? Is feminism
present and how has it influenced our society?

POST-ASSESSMENT

A. Enrichment Activities

Complete the table by supplying the characteristics of the differentideologies and pinpoint its
significance to one’s life.

ANARCHISM CONSERVATISM FASCISM LIBERALISM

Characteristics

Significance to one’s life

FEMINISM NATIONALISM CAPITALISM SOCIALISM

Characteristics

Significance to one’s life

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 12

B. Post-Test

IDENTIFY THIS ‘ISM’. Identify what Ideology is being presented in each situation.

1. The Grade 11 HUMSS do not want to vote for classroom officers because they believe that they
can still work together and cooperate as a group without recourse to force or compulsion.
2. Lean and Rex both own a water refilling station in San Andres. They are best friends and
business competitors at the same time.
3. Kim is a broad-minded person. She believes that the government should be active in supporting
social and political change
4. Jhustin Jian is a Catholic, he believes in traditional marriage consisting of two individuals with
different gender.
5. Pres. Vaughn Godferd believes that while the people may not always be right, they are usually
right, and that in the end, if the people are given free rein to choose and to select, righteousness,
truth and justice will prevail.
6. Dwayne is a productive citizen not only for himself but for his country as well. He believes that to
serve our people is to serve our nation.
7. The Anti-Rape Law of 1997 incorporating the Marital Rape is an empowering law for women in
the Philippines.
8. Everyone in society receives a share of the production based on how much each has contributed.
This system motivates them to work long hours if they want to receive more. Workers receive
their share of production after a percentage has been deducted for the common good.
9. Ma. Luisa respects the national flag and values the Filipino identity.
10. The students of Namuac Academy patronize and support our own Filipino products.
11. Every Filipino rejoiced when Catriona Gray won the 4th Ms. Universe crown for the Philippines.
12. Steve lives in a country where there is an equal access to health care and education. Its
government allocate resources through central planning.
13. The Catholic Church believes that unborn children are still human lives with value deserving
dignity and they should be protected from being murdered.
14. Education is one of the areas where women have excelled in the Philippines.
15. According to former Senator Jovito Salonga, the weak shall be strong, and the strong shall be
just.

HUMSS Philippine Politics & Religions 1 Q1 Module 2