political ideology

Examples of political ideology in the following topics:

• From Political Values to Ideology

  • Core American political values general fall in line with one of three political ideologies: liberalism, conservatism, or moderate.
  • People then choose a political ideology that most closely matches their values.
  • Generally, peoples' values about the scope and purpose of government can be translated into three main political ideologies: liberals, conservatives, and moderates.
  • As this chart illustrates, not all Americans agree on which should be the predominant political values and ideologies.
  • Differentiate between the political ideologies of liberals, conservatives, and moderates and discuss how they relate to American political values

• Political Ideology

  • People can be motivated to vote based on their political ideology, or how they think government, economy, and society should be structured.
  • Sometimes, people vote based on their political ideology.
  • Political ideologies in the United States vary considerably.
  • Individuals embrace each ideology to widely varying extents.
  • This chart, using Gallup Poll data, depicts trends in US political ideologies from 1992-2012.

• Liberalism

  • Liberalism is a broad political ideology or worldview founded on the ideas of liberty and equality.
  • Liberalism, from the Latin liberalis, is a broad political ideology or worldview founded on the ideas of liberty and equality.
  • The nineteenth century saw governments established around liberalist political ideology in nations across Europe, Latin America, and North America.
  • Classical liberalism is a political philosophy and ideology belonging to liberalism in which primary emphasis is placed on securing the freedom of the individual by limiting the power of the government.
  • Discuss the central tenets and principles of liberalism as a political philosophy

• Likeability of Political Candidates

  • A candidate's liberal or conservative ideology is usually expressed by affiliation with a political party — in the U.S. the Republican Party is understood to be conservative and the Democratic Party is understood to be liberal.
  • A candidate's stated political ideology may be treated as a proxy for their position on a range of policy issues.
  • In large part, this association is supported by political parties' platforms in the U.S.
  • Apart from ideology, less explicit factors such as likeability and access to resources impact candidates' campaigns.
  • However, likeability can be difficult for politicians and political strategists to control.

• Major Life and Political Events

  • Political socialization takes place throughout the life cycle, but major life or political events can also impact political values.
  • Parents appear to be a primary source of political socialization and partisanship.
  • However, certain major life and political events can interrupt the normal progression of political socialization, causing a person to change his or her opinion and accept other political values and ideologies.
  • That is, a person's attachment to a specific political ideology naturally grew stronger over time, as weak socialization became strong and strong socialization became stronger.
  • Major historical or political events, such as September 11th, can impact the political socialization and the formation of political values for an entire generation.

• Individualism

  • Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, or social outlook that stresses the moral worth of the individual.
  • Civil libertarianism is not a complete ideology; rather, it is a collection of views on the specific issues of civil liberties and civil rights.
  • Because of this, a civil libertarian outlook is compatible with many other political philosophies, and civil libertarianism is found on both the right and left in modern politics.

• Switching Parties

  • Though uncommon, a member of Congress switch parties for either ideological or pragmatic reasons.
  • Political Parties provide various benefits to Members of Congress, including some election support, support in Congress, and positions on various committee.
  • Political parties also serve as ideological homes for Members, and voters are often more attached to a party than to any given candidate.
  • Some members might switch due to ideological differences with their party.

• Ideological Third Parties and Splinter Parties

  • This means that two major political parties dominate in most elections and consequently dominate elected office.
  • Third parties tend to be more ideological and extremist than the Democrats or Republicans.
  • Beyond the Libertarian, Green, and Constitution Parties, third parties in American politics tend even farther towards the fringe, emphasizing ideology and avoiding speaking to a broad base.
  • Some third parties are organized entirely around one issue, rather than seeking to enact a broad, fringe ideology.
  • Describe the largest and most significant third parties in American electoral politics

• Ideological Interest Groups

  • Ideological interest groups unite on issues, with their work driven by deeply held beliefs.
  • NOW is an example of an ideological interest group.
  • On the other hand, the Christian Coalition favors a conservative Christian ideology.
  • Some groups fall between being single issue groups or ideological interest groups.
  • Describe ideological interest groups and their role in the policy-making process

• Uniting Competing Factions Within the Party

  • Democratic and Republican Parties have historically taken ideologically ambiguous positions in order to attract a wide range of supporters.
  • The two major Democratic and Republican Parties in the United States have historically been ideologically ambiguous in order to accommodate citizens representing a broad spectrum of interests.
  • The Democratic Party is most associated with a liberal attitude toward politics that emphasizes a more active government role in regulating the economy, ensuring equality, and providing a social safety net.
  • Some have even contended that American parties have become more ideologically distinct in the last three decades as party leaders begin to express polarized opinions on national issues.
  • Even with evidence of increasing polarization between political parties, they still encompass a wide range of constituents with varying viewpoints.