SSC-217: Introduction to Political

Science
05-Political Ideology:
Dr. Laila Farooq
Liberalism
a. Classical Liberalism (Locke)
• People are born free
• People are rational- they have the sense to make their own decisions
• They consent to give State power- which they can alter however they
want
• They have the freedom to make economic decisions as well (Adam
Smith)
• Inequality is not that important- freedom is
• Government should have a minimal role
Compare with other theorists
Liberalism

b. Modern Liberalism (Green)

• A positive idea of liberty- liberty means welfare and progress
• Government may need to intervene at times
• Inequality needs to be addressed

Today?
• Libertarianism
Conservatism (Burke)

• People are not all that rational

• Natural inequality
• Reason is not enough for ethical clarity
• If its not reason- what else is there?
Conservatism (Burke)

If its not reason- what else is there?

• Traditional authority: family, religion, government (constitution)
• Traditional authority teaches us ethics- reason is fickle
• What is wisdom then?
• Trends versus traditions
• Individual liberty needs to be limited
• Natural rights may exist, but not the purpose of the state
• State needs to provide order and organization

Traditional conservatism versus classical liberalism?

Socialism

• Society over individuals

Marxism:
• History is a story of clashes
• Capitalism: two classes (if you need a wage you are a proletariat). Class
is about function and not income
• Clash (over price of wage labor)
• State sides with the bourgeoisie
• Workers get alienated- and competitive- and wages get lower-
capitalism cant sustain itself- workers unite- Socialism (State
distributes)- Communism (citizens own and distribute)
• Note that capitalism contributes to these resources
Socialism

Marxism-Leninism
• Lenin (1870–1924). First leader of soviet Union-
state ownership – one party government
• Workers had to unite and form a strong
centralized party
• Imperialism (why Marx predictions did not come
true and why being capitalist was not a pre-req)
Social Democracy

• Socialism + Democracy
• Peaceful, multiparty competition, civil liberties
• More about economic equality and Government
intervention where needed
Fascism (Mussolini 1883–1945,Hitler 1889–1945)

• Totalitarian state
• State over individual rights
• Identifying with state benefits individuals
• Equality? (elitism)
• Peace is overrated
• Nationalism (racism) (civil institutions?)
From the 1talisn encyclopedia 1932 by Mussolini:

“The foundation of Fascism is the state – its character, its duty, and its aims. The
state guarantees the people’s security, both within the nation and abroad. It
represents the spirit of the nation. It is the state which educates its citizens. It
makes them aware of their purpose in life and unites them. It leads men from
primitive tribal life to the highest expression of human power, which is empire.

But building an empire demands discipline. It requires the cooperation of all forces
in the state, and a deeply felt sense of duty and sacrifice. This fact explains the
severe measures we must take against those who oppose this movement of Italy
in the 20th Century. Never before has the nation stood more in need of authority,
direction and justice. “
Neofascism

Examples: (there will be an assignment from this)

• National Alliance in Italy
• National Front in France
• The Republikaner Party in Germany (Alternative for Germany- AfR)
• Freedom Party of Austria
• National Party in Great Britain
(Hungary, Sweden, Slovenia, Poland)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6bSsaVL6gA

Who
are
you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpn9iPLbNDc
Feminism

• Philosophical roots: Liberalism

• Who is the enemy?

Feminism

• Philosophical roots: Liberalism

• Who is the enemy?

Patriarchy: the rule of men as a social group over women

as a social group
Wollstonecraft : context

Women in early 18th century England:

• If you marry, you can not own property

• That incudes your children
• If you defied your husband- they could beat you
• The husband is the wife’s governor- her attorney and her financial
representative
• Divorce was almost impossible (you would really upset the Church)
Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797)

• Human nature
• Women have souls- which means they have moral understanding- then
why are they not part of the discussion?
• Education
”Men have superior strength of body, but were it not for mistaken
notions of beauty, women would acquire sufficient to enable them to
earn their own subsistence, the true definition of independence". Let us
then, by being allowed to take the same exercise as boys, not only
during infancy, but youth, arrive at perfection of boys, that we may
know how far the natural superiority of man extends.”
• Social feminism: The problem is capitalism- redefine structures

• Radical Feminism: Problem is oppression by men -redefine structure

and meaning

• Diversity Feminism : Incorporates intersectionality (race, ethnicity)

"A mother has the biggest
influence on children... I disagree
with this western concept, this
feminist movement, it has
degraded the role of a mother.
My mother had the greatest
impact on my life.” IK
Environmentalism

• Ecology: we are all connected

• Human beings have a responsibility when using natural resources

• Sustainable development (e.g. protecting biodiversity)

• Are humans really masters of the universe?

• Its not all about economics

Conserving the environment

• Pricing ?

• Protection versus limited use (indigenous use?)

• Whose fault is it? (North-South)

• Global warming and climate change

• Other solutions? Carbon trading

Post Modernism

• There is no ‘truth’; it is relative

• Skeptical of Metanarratives e.g. what is human nature?

• Critique?