"An ideology is a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group of persons, especially those held for reasons that are not purely epistemic, in which 'practical elements are as prominent as theoretical ones.'"
An examination of the major political ideologies, including liberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism, and communism, and how they shape political thought and action.
Definition and history of political ideologies: Understanding the meaning and origins of political ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism, communism, and fascism.
Political spectrum: The different political ideologies on a spectrum from left to right, and how they differ in terms of economic policies, social issues, and governance.
Liberalism: The philosophical foundation of liberalism, its key principles such as individualism, free markets, and limited government, and its variations such as classical liberalism, modern liberalism, and neoliberalism.
Conservatism: The philosophy of conservatism, its main ideas such as tradition, order, and authority, and its subgroups such as traditional conservatism, neoconservatism, and paleoconservatism.
Socialism: The theory of socialism, its principles such as equality, collective ownership, and central planning, and its variations such as democratic socialism, Marxist socialism, and revolutionary socialism.
Fascism: The ideology of fascism, its main ideas such as nationalism, authoritarianism, and militarism, and its historical examples such as Italian fascism, German Nazism, and Japanese fascism.
Feminism: The ideology of feminism, its key principles such as gender equality, women’s rights, and social justice, and its various strands such as liberal feminism, radical feminism, and intersectional feminism.
Environmentalism: The ideology of environmentalism, its main ideas such as sustainability, ecological balance, and conservation, and its different approaches such as deep ecology, ecofeminism, and green politics.
Anarchism: The theory of anarchism, its principles such as anti-authoritarianism, voluntary association, and direct action, and its different schools such as mutualism, social anarchism, and individualist anarchism.
Nationalism: The ideology of nationalism, its main ideas such as cultural identity, territorial sovereignty, and patriotism, and its variants such as civic nationalism, ethnic nationalism, and religious nationalism.
Multiculturalism: The philosophy of multiculturalism, its key principles such as diversity, tolerance, and cultural exchange, and its different models such as liberal multiculturalism, radical multiculturalism, and cosmopolitan multiculturalism.
Globalization: The phenomenon of globalization, its effects on political ideologies, and the debates over its benefits and drawbacks such as economic integration, cultural homogenization, and political fragmentation.
Postmodernism: The philosophy of postmodernism, its main ideas such as the deconstruction of grand narratives, the critique of power relations, and the celebration of difference, and its relevance to political ideologies such as feminism, environmentalism, and anarchism.
Critical theory: The interdisciplinary field of critical theory, its origins in the Frankfurt School of social philosophy, its key concepts such as hegemony, ideology, and discourse, and its influence on political ideologies such as feminism, socialism, and environmentalism.
Liberalism: A political ideology that advocates individual freedom, equal opportunities, and free-market capitalism.
Conservatism: A political ideology that favors traditional values, limited government intervention, and free-market economics.
Socialism: An economic system and political ideology aiming to promote public ownership, collective decision-making, and equal distribution of wealth.
Communism: An ideology that advocates for a classless society, where the means of production are owned and controlled by the community.
Fascism: A far-right authoritarian ideology aimed at promoting nationalistic unity and control under a charismatic leader.
Anarchism: An ideology that rejects centralized government and advocates for decentralized, voluntary associations to govern individuals.
Environmentalism: A political ideology concerned with environmental conservation, climate change, and resource sustainability.
Feminism: A political ideology and social movement aimed at achieving gender equality and ending patriarchy, oppression, and discrimination against women.
Nationalism: A political ideology that prioritizes the interests of a particular nation or state.
Libertarianism: An ideology advocating for maximum individual freedoms and minimal government intervention in the economy.
Neo-conservatism: A political ideology that advocates for strong national defense, free-market capitalism, and promotion of democracy worldwide.
Neo-liberalism: A political ideology that advocates for free-market capitalism, globalization, and rolling back the power of the state.
Populism: A political ideology that focuses on the interests and views of ordinary people, often against those who are seen as elites, establishment, or foreigners.
"Practical elements are as prominent as theoretical ones."
"The term was coined by Antoine Destutt de Tracy, a French Enlightenment aristocrat and philosopher."
"Antoine Destutt de Tracy conceived it in 1796 as the 'science of ideas.'"
"To develop a rational system of ideas to oppose the irrational impulses of the mob."
"Formerly applied primarily to economic, political, or religious theories and policies."
"More recent use treats the term as mainly condemnatory."
"In political science, the term is used in a descriptive sense to refer to political belief systems."
"An ideology is a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group of persons."
"Reasons that are not purely epistemic."
"Antoine Destutt de Tracy."
"To oppose the irrational impulses of the mob."
"Practical elements are as prominent as theoretical ones."
"Antoine Destutt de Tracy conceived it in 1796."
"More recent use treats the term as mainly condemnatory."
"Formerly applied primarily to economic, political, or religious theories and policies."
"The term is used in a descriptive sense to refer to political belief systems."
"Practical elements are as prominent as theoretical ones."
"Reasons that are not purely epistemic."
"An ideology is a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group of persons."