Political Ideologies
Course Overview
Political ideologies are systems of thought that interpret the political world and advance ideas about how political order should be established or changed. This course examines ideologies as historically situated formations that shape understandings of the individual, society, and power, and influence political practice. Liberalism, conservatism, socialism, anarchism, nationalism, fascism, feminism, ecologism, religious fundamentalism, and multiculturalism are considered through their central arguments and historical contexts. The course explores the relations between the individual and community, liberty and equality, state and market, and authority and change. Students compare the assumptions and political proposals of different ideologies, analyze their interpretations of political concepts, and assess their relevance to contemporary developments.
Key Themes
The Concept of Ideology and the End of Ideology Liberalism Conservatism Socialism Anarchism Nationalism and Fascism Feminism Ecologism Religious Fundamentalism and Multiculturalism Ideological Change and Contemporary Politics
Learning Objectives
- Explain the historical contexts and development of modern political ideologies.
- Compare the central arguments of major political ideologies and distinguish their differences.
- Analyze ideological interpretations of concepts such as liberty, equality, justice, authority, and democracy.
- Evaluate contemporary political developments from different ideological perspectives.
Course Structure
I
Introduction — Course scope and guiding questions
II
The End of Ideology? — Do ideologies still matter?
III
Liberalism — Is liberalism a meta-ideology?
IV
Conservatism — What does conservatism conserve?
V
Socialism — Are socialism and communism the same?
VI
Anarchism — Does anarchism seek to destroy everything?
VII
Nationalism — Is nationalism racism?
VIII
Fascism — Did fascism end with the Second World War?
IX
Feminism — How many waves has the women's movement passed through?
X
Ecologism — Is ecology a concern that transcends ideologies?
XI
Religious Fundamentalism — Is religion an ideology?
XII
Ideologies Revisited — How have ideologies changed, and how have they transformed politics?