Intro to Political Ideologies

1
Intro to Political Ideologies

• WHAT ARE YOU?
• What is a .
• Radical
• Liberal
• Moderate
• Conservative
• Libertarian
• Reactionary

2
What does the political spectrum help us measure?

• There are various different opinions about what
  is actually being measured along this axis
• Whether the state should prioritize equality
  (left) or liberty (right).
• Whether the government's involvement with the
  economy should be interventionist (left) or
  laissez-faire (right).
• Whether the government should be secular and
  separate itself from religious beliefs (left) or
  should take a stance of religious morality
  (right). Fair outcomes (left) versus fair
  processes (right)
• Whether one embraces change (left) or prefers
  rigorous justification for change (right)
• Whether human nature and society is malleable
  (left) or fixed (right).
• Support for the economic interests of the poor
  (left) or the rich (right).

3
The Political Spectrum

• The 3 Major Characteristics of the Political
  Spectrum
• 1. The DEGREE/SCOPE of change
• 2. The DIRECTION of change
• 3. The METHOD of change

4
THE DEGREE/SCOPE OF CHANGE

• As you move away from the the center of the
  political spectrum, your want of change becomes
  greater
• Liberals and Conservatives want minimal change
• Reactionaries and Radicals want maximum change

5
THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE

• As you move to the right on the political
  spectrum, you become more retrogressive in the
  type of change desired (have more traditional
  views and desires)
• As you move to the left on the political
  spectrum, you become more progressive in the type
  of change desired (have more of a modern view and
  desires)

6
THE METHOD OF CHANGE

• Those closer to the center of the spectrum will
  use the current political system to institute
  their changes
• Those further away from the center of the
  spectrum will use revolutionary methods to
  institute their changes
• As you move away from the center, the method of
  change can become more violent
• Conservatives see the individual as the major
  instrument of change
• Liberals see government as the major instrument
  of change

7
The Political Spectrum

• What is a .
• Radical
• Liberal
• Moderate
• Conservative
• Reactionary

8
The Political Spectrum

• Issues to be focused onHUMAN NATURELAW
  ORDERWORLD VIEWECONOMICSGENERAL VIEWPOINTS

9
The Conservative

• HUMAN NATUREConservatives tend to be pessimistic
  about human nature
• LAW ORDERConservatives stress law order over
  personal civil rights and liberties believe
  morality needs to be regulated to ensure safety
• WORLD VIEWConservatives tend to be
  isolationists worry about home front before
  anyone else anti U.N.
• ECONOMICSConservatives support economic
  freedoms, laissez faire policies, pro business,
  and supply side economics against taxes
• GENERAL VIEWPOINTSConservatives stress family
  values, supports private schools , strong
  military and defense

10
The Liberal

• HUMAN NATURELiberals tend to be optimistic about
  human nature and its potential
• LAW ORDERLiberals promote civil rights and
  liberties over order in society affirmative
  action against government regulating morality
• WORLD VIEWLiberals tend to be internationalists,
  working to aid human suffering globally pro U.N.
• ECONOMICSLiberals support government
  intervention in economic affairs to ensure
  equality, pro laborer taxation used to support
  programs and redistribute wealth
• GENERAL VIEWPOINTSLiberals support environmental
  programs separation of church/state supports
  government intervention

11
The Moderate

• The Moderate takes no definitive position on any
  issue
• Moderates pick and choose their viewpoints
• Tend to favor status quo and desire no change
• Tend to be independent in their political
  perspectives

12
The Radical

• Desires immediate, progressive (new) change
  (violent if necessary)
• Desires ultimate sense of equality (everyone is
  the same)
• Government can be the instrument that ensures
  that equality among all

13
Libertarian

• Believes in ultimate individualism
• Believes in minimal government intervention-
• Minimal taxes, minimal govt regulation
• Government control of the economy should be
  minimal.
• As long as actions do not harm others, they
  should be legal.  Freedom and rights cannot be
  compromised

14
The Reactionary

• Desires immediate, retrogressive change (violent
  if necessary)
• Extremely racist, xenophobic, and isolationist