POLITICAL
IDEOLOGIES
CONCEPT:
To
study various issues in politics and
governance, it is important to know the
different
theories,
frameworks,
and
ideologies involved.
In
analyzing a political issue, we
need to use several of the
theories, frameworks, and
ideologies to achieve more
accurate analysis and
explanation of the issue
 Each
theory or ideology in the study
of politics has an underlying historical
factor that affected development.
We have to study these factors to
understand
how
each
theory,
framework, or ideology is applied in
the modern context. In analyzing a
political issue, we need to use several
of the theories, frameworks, and
ideologies
 The
goal of every government is to
mobilize its citizens to achieve a common
end, that is, the welfare of the state as a
whole.
 Government ideologies help them
consolidate the support of their
constituents. It is also through ideology that
civil societies go against oppressive
governments.
What is Political Idiology?
Ideology
is defined as political
statements that aim to call upon
massive mass or government action
to achieve a relatively better
political and economic condition (
Baradat 1997).
formal
use of ideology as a political
science jargon was made by Claude
Destutt De Tracy (17541836) when he
was studying the enlightenment of
Europe.
Their
applications,
however,
are
dependent upon the different political
attitudes of people and institutions.
Frederick Watkins (1969) suggested that
ideologies come from different political
extremes such as the conservatives or
the pro status quo on one side, and the
radicals or the anti-status quo on the
extreme side.
Modern-day
political scientists
have expanded the spectrum to
include different levels of political
attitudes and the different ways in
which each level wants to
preserve or change the status
quo.
At
the extreme right of the spectrum,
changing the status quo is not a
primary concern and if ever change
happens, a retrogressive change is
taken into consideration or the return
of the old status quo. At this level are
the reactionaries and the
conservatives.
On
the left side of the spectrum are
the liberals and the radicals who are
by nature anti-status quo. Though the
radicals push for more extreme
changes in the political system, both
the radicals, and the liberals aim for
progressive change in the state.
Political Ideologies
1. Conservatism.
2. Liberalism
3. Marxism
4. Anarchism
5.
Libertarianism
1. Conservatism
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, distrust to human reasoning
and
nature
or
anti-egalitarianism
(Sargent 2009)
Edmund
Burke, through his work
Reflections on the French Revolution,
argued that institutions evolved to fit
the needs of society, thus “tampering
with tradition is likely to bring grief
rather than improvement” (Sargent
2009).
2. Liberalism
It can be said that liberalism is the
opposite of conservatism for it favors
change, prefers more freedom, and
has a more optimistic approach to
human
reasoning
and
nature
(Sargeant 2009).
Classical
liberalism adheres to the laissezfaire system proposed by Adam Smith in his
Wealth of Nations, wherein the government
does not interfere with the free market such
as monopolies, unfair contracts, the poor
become poorer), is more open to the idea
that, at certain times, the government
should interfere.
3. Marxism
Ideas
of Karl Marx.
a. Alienation.
This is the relationship between two or
more people or parts of oneself in
which one is cut off from, a stranger or
alien, the others ( Sargeant 2009). For
Marx, alienation in its basic form is the
alienation from one’s labor (or product
of one’s labor ), and capitalism is a
great factor in this phenomenon.
b. Class Struggle
Karl Marx also noted the struggle between
the bourgeoisie (the capitalist or middle
class) and the proletariat (workers). The
bourgeoisie social class oppresses and
exploits the proletariat not only through
unfair compensation of the latter’s labor
but also by setting up laws and standard
and controlling the system or the state to
maintain its social status.
But
there will come a time for the
need to educate the proletariat and/
or they will eventually be made
aware of their situation and will
overthrow the bourgeoisie and the
systems they created, which means
c. Materialism.
Marxism
and the offshoots of this ideology
offer a complex perspective and usage of
materialism.
Most
social
scientists,
however, would agree to the basic
definition that “ how people think is
greatly affected by how you live”
(Sargeant 2009).
For
example, the members of the
bourgeoisie might think more about
profit and leisure, that life is good,
and that money can do anything.
This is because they live a
comfortable life with money and
power in the state. They do not do
hard labor. Their profit might even
come in through passive income.
c. Materialism.
d. Revolution
Almost all theories and ideologies related
to
Marxism
consider
proclaiming
revolution as the way to change the
system.
 By revolution, Marx did not mean
peaceful walkouts but a violent one in
which the proletariat will topple down
the elite class and all the system they
have made.
Even
in its violent nature. Marx
considered revolution as a
good and inevitable process
that will eventually lead to a
classless ideal society. (
Sargeant 2009).
4. Anarchism
While
most people are familiar with how
anarchy is popularly used to mean
chaos due to the nonexistence of
control mechanisms, the idea behind it
is more on peaceful coexistence and
equality.
It
is living a peaceful life without
coercion from anyone. As Alexander
passive income.
Berkman (1964) put it, “Anarchism
teaches that we can live in a society
where there is no compulsion of any
kind.
A
life without compulsion
naturally means liberty, it
means freedom from being
forced or coerced, a chance
to lead the life that suits you
best”.
5. Libertarianism

This is another version of
anarchism but involves the
government in a minimal role
such as ensuring the safety of
everyone and fairness in
whatever contracts or dealings
(Sargeant 2009
Learning about political ideologies is
advantageous in understanding
certain political contexts. In the
Philippines, different political
ideologies like Marxism and
communism have affected different
political-historical events.
There are other ideologies, depending
on the issue or aspect of human life
one is studying. There are also new
ideologies
that
may
crop
up.
Remember that because of the
multitude and complexity of some
issues on politics and governance, we
cannot be all too liberal or all too
conservative.