POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES

What is an Ideology?
Vs.
Vs.
*Consistent and Integrated system of beliefs
They Tell Us 2 Things:
1. Who Should Govern:
2. What goals they should pursue:

___________is a political philosophy that emphasizes that the common person is being oppressed by elites so that the instruments of the state need to be grasped from this self-serving elite and used for the benefit and advancement of the people as a whole.

How do we get these Views?
Political Socialization: How we get our political beliefs
How do we get our Political Beliefs? 1 minute Discussion with person next to you…
Family- Most H.S. Seniors indentify with same party as parents
School- The more education Americans have the more likely
3. Religion- Shapes whether or not we are Liberal or Conservative
4. Peers- As we age we are influenced by friends/co-workers
5. Gender/Ethnicity- Men more likely to be Republican, Black more likely to vote for Democrats
6. Media- News plays a huge role in what we believe.

Conservatives
Beliefs of Conservatives:
Slow to Advocate for Change
Distrust Gov’t action except in national defense
Traditional Social Values
Maintain Social Order
-Reluctance to accept it
-Private industry can do it better
-Religious values are key
-Law and order are maintained
Conservatives tend to see human nature pessimistically

Liberals
1. Change is Good
2. Expand individual rights and freedoms
3. Look for new ways to solve social problems
Change=Progress
Create equality and protection of minorities
Environmental Protection, Gun Control
Liberals view people as generally being good in nature

It’s the Economy Stupid…
Gov‘t can’t handle economic matters
Gov’t shouldn’t regulate economy
Low Taxes
Smaller Gov’t Budget/less programs
Gov’t should regulate business
Fix economy in bad times
More willing to tax to fund gov’t programs
Conservative
Liberal

Splitting up the Views (4)
Social Liberal- Freedom to make individual moral choices, regulate (-)’s of change
Social Conservative- pass laws to promote moral code (religious right)
Economic Liberal- Want government to work to make life equal for Americans
Economic Conservative- Gov’t should cut taxes and stay out of economy