Political Ideology What is your political ideology Def

Political Ideology What is your political ideology? Def. – “a body of ideas or views of the world that reflect the social needs, values, and ideas of an individual or group.

RADICAL • The most left on political spectrum • Call for wide-sweeping rapid change in the basic structure of the political, social, or economic system. • They may be willing to resort to extreme methods to bring about change, including the use of violence and revolution.

LIBERAL • Left of center on political spectrum • Liberals believe that the government should be actively involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation's citizens. • Liberals usually call for peaceful, gradual change within the existing political system. • They reject violent revolution as a way of changing the way things are, often called the status quo.

MODERATE • Middle of the political spectrum • Moderates may share viewpoints with both liberals and conservatives. • They are seen as tolerant of other people's views, and they do not hold extreme views of their own. They advocate a "go-slow" or "wait-and-see" approach to social or political change. •

CONSERVATIVE • Right of center on political spectrum • Favor keeping things the way they are or maintaining the status quo if it is what they desire. • Hesitant or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism in some way. • Less government there is, the better. They agree with Jefferson's view that "the best government governs least

REACTIONARY • Far right on political spectrum • Reactionaries want to go back to the way things were - the "good ol' days. “ • Often reactionaries are willing to use extreme methods, such as repressive use of government power, to achieve their goals.

Matching Ideology to Political Parties • Political parties are loosely formed around these broad political ideologies. • Republicans are generally seen as conservative – • Democrats are generally seen as liberal – • advocate a reduction in government. support government regulation of the economy. Differences within parties?

Matching Ideology to Political Parties cont. • Labels not always the same – • Where & when The term right refers to people who hold traditional values. Left is used to describe people who support change in society. These terms originated from the French National Assembly during the French Revolution. All those who supported the monarchy went to the right of the speaker, while those who supported the revolutionaries moved to the left.

Radical Political Party? • • • Communist Party USA Socialist Party USA New Light Party Freedom Socialist Party http: //www. politics 1. com/ parties. htm

Liberal Political Party? • Democratic Party

Moderate Political Party? • Independence Party • Libertarian Party • http: //www. politics 1. c om/parties. htm

Conservative Political Party? • Republican Party

Reactionary Political Party? • • Knights Party American Nazi Party Family Values Party American Hertitage Party • http: //www. politics 1. c om/parties. htm

What are those who fall in the middle of the political spectrum known as? • Moderate – Beliefs fall somewhere between liberals and conservatives and generally include some of both – Over the past 20 years: • 40% claim to be moderates • 26% claim to be liberal • 30% claim to be conservative

Liberals Equality --------------Freedom Liberal Communitarian Libertarian Conservative Freedom ----------- Order • Tolerate variety in life-styles • Favor government intervention in economic areas. • Government meant to help the disadvantaged achieve greater equality. • If you lived in a “liberal” country there would be large degree of personal freedom and a large degree of government control over the economy. • Land of. . . ”live and let live”.

Conservatives Equality --------------Freedom Liberal Communitarian Libertarian Conservative Freedom ----------- Order • Favor government intervention in matters of lifestyle, but oppose it in the economy. • Government meant to defend the community from threats to accepted practices. • If you lived in a “conservative” country there would a lot of economic freedom, but many government controls over the personal freedoms. • Land of. . . government control over personal affairs and free market economy. Drugs, alcohol, obscene speech regulated.

Communitarians Equality --------------Freedom Liberal Communitarian Libertarian Conservative Freedom ----------- Order • Favor government intervention in matters of lifestyle, AND in the economy. • Government meant to “correct wrongs”. • If you lived in a “Communitarian” country there would be large degree regulation of economics and personal freedoms. • Land of. . . more government sponsored programs, more regulations to ensure equity and safety, state-sponsored welfare, and, of course, higher taxes.

Libertarians Equality --------------Freedom Liberal Communitarian • Tolerate variety in life-styles, and want very little government intervention in economic areas. • See government as a burden. Libertarian Conservative • If you lived in a “Libertarian” country there would be a large degree of economic and personal freedoms. • Land of. . . free markets and volunteerism. Freedom ----------- Order