Political ideology in theory
Political ideology in theory is a specific set of ethical ideals, principles, values, myths, or symbols of a social group. Political ideologies are concerned with many different aspects of society, including:
- The economy, education, health care
- Labor law, criminal law, the justice system
- The provision of social security and social welfare
- Trade, the environment, minors, immigration, race
- The use of the military, patriotism
Beyond the simple left-right analysis, there are several political ideologies in the United States, apart from those who identify as moderate or centrist.
- Liberalism
- Socialism
- Communism
- Marxism
- Populism
- Libertarianism
- Conservatism
Since the 1960s, the Democratic Party has been considered liberal and the Republican Party has been considered conservative. As a group, liberals are referred to as the left and conservatives as the right.
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system in which private individuals or businesses own capital goods. The production of goods and services is based on supply and demand in the general market—known as a market economy—rather than through central planning—known as a planned economy or command economy.
Capitalism is based on individual initiative and favors market mechanisms over government intervention, while socialism is based on government planning and limitations on private control of resources.
A capitalist nation is dominated by the free market, which is an economic system in which both prices and production are dictated by corporations and private companies in competition with one another, and places a heavy focus on private property, economic growth, freedom of choice, and limited government intervention.
The United States is a capitalist society where means of production are based on private ownership and operation for profit. … The US government has always had some role in the economy, but some periods of time the economy was closer to a truly free market.
Capitalism is the world’s greatest economic success story. It is the most effective way to provide for the needs of people and foster the democratic and moral values of a free society. Even before the current crisis, capitalism received a “bad rap” from a culture ambivalent about free markets and wealth creation.
The U.S. has retained its position of being the world’s largest economy since 1871. The size of the U.S. economy was at $20.58 trillion in 2018 in nominal terms and is expected to reach $22.32 trillion in 2020.
Socialism
Socialism is a political, social, and economic philosophy encompassing a range of economic … Elements of socialist thought were discerned in the politics of classical Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle. …
Socialism is an economic and political system. It is an economic theory of social organization. It believes that the means of making, moving, and trading wealth should be owned or controlled by the workers. This means the money made belongs to the people who make things, instead of a group of private owners.
Socialism is a political, social, and economic philosophy encompassing a range of economic and social systems characterized by social ownership of the means of production and workers’ self-management of enterprises. It includes the political theories and movements associated with such systems.
A socialist economy features social rather than private ownership of the means of production. Socialist ideology asserts the moral and economic superiority of an economy with these features, especially as compared with capitalism.
Socialist Ideology, in theory, based on public benefits, socialism has the greatest goal of the commonwealth; Since the government controls almost all of society’s functions, it can make better use of resources, labors, and lands; Socialism reduces the disparity in wealth, not only in different areas but also in all societal ranks and classes.
Socialism in Canada has a long history and along with conservatism and liberalism, is a political force in Canada. Canada’s socialist movement is believed to have originated in Western Canada. The Socialist Labor Party was formed in 1898 in Vancouver.
The downside to Socialism:
KEY Points. Disadvantages of socialism include slow economic growth, less entrepreneurial opportunity and competition, and a potential lack of motivation by individuals due to lesser rewards.
Communism
Communism is a philosophical, social, political, economic ideology and movement whose ultimate goal is to establish a communist society, namely a socioeconomic order structured upon the ideas of shared ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes, money, and the state.
The Communist Party has a political and economic ideology that positions itself in opposition to liberal democracy and capitalism, advocating instead for a classless system in which the means of production are owned communally. Private property is nonexistent or severely curtailed.
Marxism
It is a social, political, and economic theory originated by Karl Marx, which focuses on the struggle between capitalists and the working class. He believed that this conflict would ultimately lead to a revolution in which the working class would overthrow the capitalist class and seize control of the economy.
Basic principles of Marxism:
Opposition to an economic system based on inequality and on the alienation and exploitation of the majority (using the system of wage labor), a system whose purpose is to obtain profits for some people rather than satisfying the needs of all.
The core ideas are that the world is divided into classes, the workers and the richer capitalists who exploit the workers, there is a class conflict that should ultimately result in socialism (workers own means of production), and then communism (stateless, classless society).
Liberalism
Classical liberals were committed to individualism, liberty, and equal rights. They believed these goals required a free economy with minimal government interference. Some elements of Whiggery were uncomfortable with the commercial nature of classical liberalism. These elements became associated with conservatism.
Classical liberals were committed to individualism, liberty, and equal rights. They believed these goals required a free economy with minimal government interference. Some elements of Whiggery were uncomfortable with the commercial nature of classical liberalism.
A liberal democracy may take various constitutional forms as it may be a constitutional monarchy (such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom) or a republic (such as France, Germany, Poland, India, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, and the United States).
Why Liberalism Failed is a critique of economic liberalism as both practiced by American Democrats and Republicans. The book argues that liberalism has exhausted itself, leading to income inequality, cultural decline, the erosion of freedoms, and the growth of powerful, centralized bureaucracies.
Since the 1960s, the Democratic Party has been considered liberal, and the Republican Party has been considered conservative. As a group, liberals are referred to as the left and conservatives as the right.
Liberalism, political doctrine that takes protecting and enhancing the freedom of the individual to be the central problem of politics. Liberals typically believe that government is necessary to protect individuals from being harmed by others, but they also recognize that the government itself can pose a threat to liberty.
Conservatives
The term “Grand Old Party” is a traditional nickname for the Republican Party, and the abbreviation “GOP” is a commonly used designation. The term originated in 1875 in the Congressional Record, referring to the party associated with the successful military defense of the Union as “this gallant old party”.
The Republican Party is generally associated with social conservative policies, although it does have dissenting centrist and libertarian factions. The social conservatives want laws that uphold their traditional values, such as opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, and marijuana.
Those on the Left often called themselves “republicans”, while those on the Right often called themselves “conservatives”.
Libertarians
The Libertarian Party (LP) is a political party in the United States that promotes civil liberties, non-interventionism, laissez-faire capitalism, and limiting the size and scope of government.
- Libertarians seek to maximize political freedom and autonomy
- They emphasize individualism, freedom of choice, and voluntary association
- Libertarians share a skepticism of authority and state power
- They diverge on the scope of their opposition to existing economic and political systems
Libertarianism is an idea in ethics and politics. The word comes from the word ‘liberty’. The Libertarian Party believes that people should be able to do whatever they want as long as their actions do not hurt others. Many of the beliefs of libertarianism are similar to the beliefs in classical liberalism.
Identity Politics
Identity politics is a term that describes:
- A political approach
- An ideology
- Religion
- Race
- Social background
- Class
- Other identifying factors
The term ‘identity politics’ was coined by the Combahee River Collective in 1977 and IP has been seeing a resurgence during recent years in the US. It has gained currency with the emergence of social activism, manifesting in various dialogues within the feminist, American civil rights, and LGBT movements, as well as multiple nationalist and postcolonial organizations.