political ideology

(noun)

A political ideology is a certain ethical set of ideals that explains how society should work, and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order. It focuses on type of government and economy.

Related Terms

  • political tolerance
  • liberal
  • conservative
  • rule of law

Examples of political ideology in the following topics:

  • From Political Values to Ideology

    • Core American political values general fall in line with one of three political ideologies: liberalism, conservatism, or moderate.
    • People then choose a political ideology that most closely matches their values.
    • Generally, peoples' values about the scope and purpose of government can be translated into three main political ideologies: liberals, conservatives, and moderates.
    • As this chart illustrates, not all Americans agree on which should be the predominant political values and ideologies.
    • Differentiate between the political ideologies of liberals, conservatives, and moderates and discuss how they relate to American political values
  • Political Ideology

    • People can be motivated to vote based on their political ideology, or how they think government, economy, and society should be structured.
    • Sometimes, people vote based on their political ideology.
    • Political ideologies in the United States vary considerably.
    • Individuals embrace each ideology to widely varying extents.
    • This chart, using Gallup Poll data, depicts trends in US political ideologies from 1992-2012.
  • Liberalism

    • Liberalism is a broad political ideology or worldview founded on the ideas of liberty and equality.
    • Liberalism, from the Latin liberalis, is a broad political ideology or worldview founded on the ideas of liberty and equality.
    • The nineteenth century saw governments established around liberalist political ideology in nations across Europe, Latin America, and North America.
    • Classical liberalism is a political philosophy and ideology belonging to liberalism in which primary emphasis is placed on securing the freedom of the individual by limiting the power of the government.
    • Discuss the central tenets and principles of liberalism as a political philosophy
  • Likeability of Political Candidates

    • A candidate's liberal or conservative ideology is usually expressed by affiliation with a political party — in the U.S. the Republican Party is understood to be conservative and the Democratic Party is understood to be liberal.
    • A candidate's stated political ideology may be treated as a proxy for their position on a range of policy issues.
    • In large part, this association is supported by political parties' platforms in the U.S.
    • Apart from ideology, less explicit factors such as likeability and access to resources impact candidates' campaigns.
    • However, likeability can be difficult for politicians and political strategists to control.
  • Major Life and Political Events

    • Political socialization takes place throughout the life cycle, but major life or political events can also impact political values.
    • Parents appear to be a primary source of political socialization and partisanship.
    • However, certain major life and political events can interrupt the normal progression of political socialization, causing a person to change his or her opinion and accept other political values and ideologies.
    • That is, a person's attachment to a specific political ideology naturally grew stronger over time, as weak socialization became strong and strong socialization became stronger.
    • Major historical or political events, such as September 11th, can impact the political socialization and the formation of political values for an entire generation.
  • Individualism

    • Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, or social outlook that stresses the moral worth of the individual.
    • Civil libertarianism is not a complete ideology; rather, it is a collection of views on the specific issues of civil liberties and civil rights.
    • Because of this, a civil libertarian outlook is compatible with many other political philosophies, and civil libertarianism is found on both the right and left in modern politics.
  • Switching Parties

    • Though uncommon, a member of Congress switch parties for either ideological or pragmatic reasons.
    • Political Parties provide various benefits to Members of Congress, including some election support, support in Congress, and positions on various committee.
    • Political parties also serve as ideological homes for Members, and voters are often more attached to a party than to any given candidate.
    • Some members might switch due to ideological differences with their party.
  • Ideological Third Parties and Splinter Parties

    • This means that two major political parties dominate in most elections and consequently dominate elected office.
    • Third parties tend to be more ideological and extremist than the Democrats or Republicans.
    • Beyond the Libertarian, Green, and Constitution Parties, third parties in American politics tend even farther towards the fringe, emphasizing ideology and avoiding speaking to a broad base.
    • Some third parties are organized entirely around one issue, rather than seeking to enact a broad, fringe ideology.
    • Describe the largest and most significant third parties in American electoral politics
  • Ideological Interest Groups

    • Ideological interest groups unite on issues, with their work driven by deeply held beliefs.
    • NOW is an example of an ideological interest group.
    • On the other hand, the Christian Coalition favors a conservative Christian ideology.
    • Some groups fall between being single issue groups or ideological interest groups.
    • Describe ideological interest groups and their role in the policy-making process
  • Uniting Competing Factions Within the Party

    • Democratic and Republican Parties have historically taken ideologically ambiguous positions in order to attract a wide range of supporters.
    • The two major Democratic and Republican Parties in the United States have historically been ideologically ambiguous in order to accommodate citizens representing a broad spectrum of interests.
    • The Democratic Party is most associated with a liberal attitude toward politics that emphasizes a more active government role in regulating the economy, ensuring equality, and providing a social safety net.
    • Some have even contended that American parties have become more ideologically distinct in the last three decades as party leaders begin to express polarized opinions on national issues.
    • Even with evidence of increasing polarization between political parties, they still encompass a wide range of constituents with varying viewpoints.
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