Political Ideologies
Major Systems of Government and Economic
Beliefs
Questions to ask…
 Who owns what in society?
 How is the government organized?
 Where does power derive itself?
Terms to Know
 Government - the exercise of political authority over the actions and
affairs of a political unit and people. Also, the performance of certain
functions for this unit or body.
 Economy - the complex range of human activities concerned with the
production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
 Bureaucracy –The excessive multiplication of and concentration of
power in, administrative “bureaus” or administrators.
 Federalism – A government clearly divided between national and
local levels. Both levels have powers reserved for them and them
alone.
 Unitary Government – One national government that has all the
power. Local governments may exist, but they exist at the pleasure
and will of the national government.
Two Cows…
 To help explain the systems of
government, and so that you can
compare them, we’re going to use
the “two cows” system. Basically,
you will always start off with two
cows. Sometimes, it will be noted
that your neighbor doesn’t have a
cow for himself. What each
government does in response
should help you understand how
the government interacts with the
people.
Anarchy
 Absence of any form of political authority.
Examples: Occupy Wall Street
Two Cows - Anarchy
 You have two cows, your neighbor has none.
He takes one from you because he wants one. You would go to
the police for help, but there aren’t any.
Feudalism (9th-15th Century)
A political an economic system of Europe, based on the
holding of all land in a “fief ” or “fee” and the resulting
relation of lord to “vassal” and characterized by homage,
legal and military service of “serfs,” or peasants.
Two Cows - Feudalism
You have two cows.
Your lord takes some of the
milk in exchange for
protection.
Your neighbor has no cows.
Your neighbor is in big trouble.
Theocracy
 A government ruled by or subject to religious authority.
Examples:
•Vatican City (ruled by the Pope, head of the Catholic Church)
•Tibet (ruled by the Dalai Lama, head of Tibetan Buddhism)
Two Cows - Theocracy
You have two cows.
They have both
reached Nirvana.
Democracy
A government by the people; a form of government in which
the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised
directly by them.
Examples: Ancient Greece, some small towns or villages
Republic
A government by the people; power is vested in the people and
exercised by their elected agents in a free electoral system. A
defining characteristic is the absence of a monarch; power
comes only from the people.
Examples: Ancient Rome, the United States?
Representative Democracy
 A type of democracy in which the citizens delegate authority
to elected officials.
Two Cows – Representative Democracy
 You have two cows. Your neighbors don’t have any.
You and your neighbors pick someone to determine exactly what
you’ll be allowed to do with the milk.
Capitalism
 An economic system in which investment in and ownership of the
means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made
and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations.
 Capitalism tends to oppose cooperatively or state-owned means of
wealth.
 Adam Smith: “When an individual pursues his self-interest, he
indirectly promotes the good of society.”
Two Cows - Capitalism
 You have two
cows.Your neighbor
has none. You sell one
cow and buy a bull.
You breed them, and
sell your neighbor a
new cow for a profit.
Welfare Capitalism
 Welfare capitalism refers either to the combination of a
capitalist economic system with a welfare state or, in the American
context, to the practice of businesses providing welfare-like
services to employees.
 A welfare state is a concept of government where the state plays
the primary role in the protection and promotion of the economic
and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of
equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and
public responsibility for those unable obtain the minimal definition
of “the good life” for themselves.
Socialism
 A theory or system of social
organization that advocates the vesting
of the ownership and control of the
means of production and distribution
in the community as a whole.
• Social Democracy – Advocating the things important to
socialism within free elections. Also supportive of reforms and
regulations within Capitalism, but still supportive of the
concept of a Free Market in general.
What’s Mine is Yours…
And What’s Yours is Mine!
Two Cows - Socialism
 You have two cows.
The government takes them and puts them in a barn with
everyone else's cows.
You have to take care of all the cows.
The government gives you as much milk as you need.
Bureaucratic Socialism
 A systems of social organization in which all economic and
social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state. This
government is dominated by a single political party.
Communism
 A theory or system of social organization based on holding all
property in common. Actual ownership is given to the
community as a whole, or to the state of behalf of the
community.
Russian Communism
 A system of government in which
the state plans and controls the
economy. A single, often
authoritarian party holds power,
claiming to make progress toward
a higher social order in which all
goods are equally shared.
Two Cows - Communism
 You have two cows. Your neighbor has none.
You have to take care of them, but the single-party
government takes all the milk to redistribute “fairly.” By the
way, they define “fair.”
Fascism
 A governmental system led
by a dictator having
complete power, forcibly
suppressing opposition and
criticism, controlling al
industry, commerce, and
trade. There is an emphasis
on nationalism, and often
racism.
Two Cows - Fascism
 You have two cows.
The government takes both, hires you to take care of them,
and sells you the milk.
Your neighbor with no cows gets accused of being a religious
minority, and is taken away.
Free Market
Command Market