Topic 10

Challenges to the Dominant

Ideologies
GOVT 1001
 Challenges to the dominant ideologies
 A range of contemporary ideologies challenge the traditional ones
 Contemporary ideologies differ from traditional ideologies in a number of ways:
 less optimistic about the ability of ideology to construct an overarching
explanation of the world
 respect difference and variety, a product of social and economic change, gave
rise to a number of powerful identity groups based on gender, culture, and
ethnicity, and raised question marks over environmental sustainability
 The lecture considers a number of contemporary ideologies such as
environmentalism, multiculturalism, and religious fundamentalism. It argues
that these ideologies represent a challenge to the state.
Main Areas:

1. Environmentalism

2. Multiculturalism

3. Religious Fundamentalism
Environmentalism as an ideology

1] Environmental policy agenda emerged in the

19th and early 20th century

2] Environmentalism as an ideology and movement

can be traced to the latter part of the 20th century,
especially Earth Day 1971
Environmentalism as a political party

In the 20th century, environmentalism emerged as a

political party, the Greens. Powerful in Europe,
especially Germany

U.S. Green Party successful in state elections;

Presidential candidate Ralph Nader in 2000 won
2.8 million votes
Basic Principles of Environmentalism

1. Ecological stewardship idea

Humans have ethical obligations to nature, which limit
what we do in nature. We are caretakers of the earth.
Stewardship opposes “the assumption that ownership
is an entitlement to total discretion over use.”

Aldo Leopold (1887-1948)

2. Respect for other species idea

Human-centrism must end - the idea that humans are

the masters of the universe who have a right to
control it. Instead, there may be up to 30 million
species, most of which are still unknown.

John Muir (1838-1914)

3. Wilderness as spiritual haven idea

Wilderness areas keep us in contact with nature,

which is essential to a sense of well being

Environmental degradation robs us of the

wilderness as a spiritual haven
1. Environmentalism triggers tension
between North & South

1. Northern nations are industrialized & affluent.

Southern are poorer, more populous and less
industrialized.

2. The North got rich exploiting natural

resources of the South.

3. Now the North seeks to restrict the South’s

ability to exploit those same resources.
North-South Division

Southern states, seeking to exploit their resources

for economic development, say the North is
hypocritical:- South American rainforest
Origins and development of Religious
Fundamentalism
Religious fundamentalism:
1. A creature of the modern age, despite its resistance to
modernization.

2. Seems to appear in troubled societies undergoing crises of

identity.

3. Affected by processes of secularization, post colonialism and

globalization.

4. Can be found in certain sects of all major religions.

Principles of religious fundamentalism
Religious fundamentalism is as much an ideology as it
is a style of politics. It tends to recognize certain
principles as essential truths, and is characterised as
having the following values:

1. Religion as politics
2. The fundamentalist impulse
3. Anti-modernisation
4. Militancy
The family of fundamentalists
1. Although all religions have spawned fundamentalism,
Islam and Protestant Christianity are most prone, as both
hold that believers have direct access to spiritual wisdom.

2. Each fundamentalist group is conditioned by the social,

political and economic structures of where they have
emerged.

3. Different groups associate themselves with different

political causes.
Religious fundamentalism in the global age

1. Religions have often had a global orientation, particularly

those spread as a tool of colonialism.

2. Religions that embrace evangelicalism often have a stronger

global orientation.

3. There is little doubt that accelerated globalization has inspired

fundamentalism, but this process may ultimately prove to also be
the antidote to fundamentalism.
What is multiculturalism?

1. It refers to cultural diversity where two or more groups with

distinctive beliefs/cultures exist in asociety.

2. It can also refer to government policy as a formal

recognition of the cultural distinctiveness of particular groups.

3. It implies a positive endorsement of cultural diversity.

Principles of Multiculturalism

1. Diversity
2. Equality
3. Overcoming barriers
4. Harmony
5. Minority rights
6. Recognition/ Identity
Diversity
 Multiculturalists believe that cultural diversity is
compatible with political cohesion. People have multiple
identities and therefore loyalties.

 People are able to participate in society because they have

a firm and secure identity rooted in their own culture.
Denial of culture results in isolation and powerlessness
providing a breeding ground for extremism.

 Diversity should be celebrated. It fosters cross cultural

tolerance and understanding.