Ideology

 Is more or less a coherent set of ideas that direct or

organize a specific political action.
 It consist of belief and value systems, a discussion of
existing power relationships
 An exploration of how political change is achieved in
line with these power relations
 An illustration of desired future
Several definitions of Ideology
 A political belief system
 An action-oriented 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 conciousness 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 truth
 An abstract and highly systematic set of political ideas
“A state is better governed
which has but few laws,
and those laws strictly
observed.”
- Rene Descartes
Test Your Stock Knowledge
Cite three theories or ideologies that you know. Write
a definition or brief explanation of each theory or
ideology.
1.

2.

3.
L I B E R A L I S M D Y
A B C N O I T I D A R T
E Q U A L I T Y G R E R
D F K G W A P O F X A E
A A H W I S L E H I Z B
X S N V O M E I J S K I
C S O C I A L I S M W L
C O N S E R V A T I S M
Liberalism
 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.
 Equality implies that individuals are born equal, at
least in moral terms. Equal rights and entitlement are
at its core.
LIBERALISM
 Opposite of conservatism

 Favors change, prefers more freedom, and has

a more optimistic approach to human
reasoning and nature.
 Laissez Faire System – government does not
interfere with the market (Adam Smith in his
book Wealth of Nations)
 Modern liberalism, upon seeing the adverse
impact of the free market, is more open to the
idea that, at certain times, the government
should interfere.
Conservatism
 Tradition must be conserved. These traditions include
established customs, institutions and ways of doing
things that have endured through time.
 Conservatives also believe that social position and
status are only natural.
 Authority must be exercised from above. Leadership is
provided to guide and support those who lack
knowledge and educatiion and those who have little
capacity to act for their own interest.
CONSERVATIS
M  As the name implies, one is focused on
conserving something.

 It is characterized by a resistant to change,

adherent to limited human freedom as it
chooses to maintain traditional values, and at
some extreme versions.
 Edmund Burke (Reflections on the French
Revolution) argued that institutions evolved
over time to fit the needs of the society, thus
“tampering with tradition is likely to bring
grief than improvement”.
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.
 Brotherhood or fraternity speaks of a shared common
humanity. Socialist thus prefer cooperation rather than
competition and collectively rather than
individualism.
Marxism
 Historical materialism or the materialist conception of
history provides that the economy conditions all other
aspects of social life-including the law, government,
politics, education, etc.
 The exploitation of the proletariat by the capitalists
would develop class conciousness among the former,
hence ushering a proletarian revolution which will
facilitate the creation of a communist society.
 MARXISM
 Based on Karl Marx’ ideology

 Classless Society

 Karl Marx-Father of Communism

Ideological and conceptual bases of

Marxism:
a. Alienation c. Materialism
b. Class Struggle d. Revolution
ANALYSIS GUIDE
Answer the following questions in span of
2-3 sentences only.
1. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of having or promoting a
certain ideology?
2.What ideology do you prefer? Why?
Base your answer on the different
ideologies enumerated in the
discussion above and the observable
political situation of the country at
present.
3.What do you think is lacking in terms