Major Political Ideologies:

Key Ideas and Theories

Introduction
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.
Liberalism
Belief in individualism underscores the
importance of the human individual compared
to any other group.

Key Tenets
Liberty Tolerance
Reason Authority
Equality Individualism
Conservatism
Tradition must be conserved. These traditions
include established customs, institutions, and
ways of doing things that have endured through
time.

Key Tenets
Traditions Organisms Property
Pragmatism Hierarchy
Human Imperfections Authority
Socialism
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.

Key Tenets
Community Social Class
Fraternity Common Ownership
Social Equality
Marxism
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.

Key Tenets
Dialectic
Class Consciousness
Communist Society
Fascism
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.

Key Tenets
Common Values Unified National
Community
Hero
Anarchism
The state, or any political authority, is seen as
both evil and unnecessary.

Key Tenets
Stateless Society
Feminism
Feminism is diverse but its unifying theme is
the desire to enhance the social role of women

Key Tenets
Social Role of Women
Sexual or Gender Identity
Cosmopolitanism
Ideological expression of globalization.

Key Tenets
Cosmopolis
Modern cosmopolitanism
Ideologies and the Philippine Society

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