2. Why Study Ideologies?
The power of ideas to move people to act
Understanding the ideological storms of
20th
century
Necessary to democracy?
3. “Ideology” – Good or bad?
Ideology as enlightened public opinion, a
democratic intelligence (Antoine Destutt
de Tracy)
Ideology as dangerous dreaming and
shadowy metaphysics (Napoleon)
Ideology as false consciousness (Marx)
Ideology as wish fulfillment providing a
sense of security and identity (Freud)
Ideology as social prejudices that resist
change (Karl Mannheim)
4. Ambivalence of Ideology
(As defined in the Oxford English Dictionary)
The positive view:
ideology as the “science of ideas” that
informs popular intelligence; being
“enlightened” about public matters
The negative view:
ideology as a dangerous “ideal or abstract
speculation” and “unpractical or visionary
theorizing” that leads to popular illusions
5. A Working Definition of ideology:
Broadly speaking: a system of ideas or
beliefs oriented toward action
Nancy Love: ideologies are the
“translators of ideas into action”
Ball and Dagger: “an ideology is a fairly
coherent and comprehensive set of ideas
that explains and evaluates social
conditions, helps people understand their
place in society, and provides a program
for social and political action.”
6. Four Functions of an Ideology
Explanation
Why is political reality the way it is?
Evaluation
What value judgments should we make about our
political situation?
Orientation
Who are we and where do we belong?
Program of Action
What do we need to do to improve our situation?
10. Americans and ideology
Americans as naïve ideologists
“pragmatic” “moderate” “middle of the road”
The Liberal Consensus
Set of political ideas/ideals shared by most Americans
The “End of Ideology”
“A New World Order”
The belief that a worldwide consensus has emerged on
the beneficence of a liberal-capitalist state-based order
From Ideology to the Cultural Wars
Economic and class displaced by values and religion
11. Escaping Ideologies: Mannheim’s
Paradox
How can we talk about, or criticize,
ideologies without being ideological
ourselves?
Mannheim: Sociology of Knowledge
If all knowledge is contextual and rooted
in one’s social situation (class, nation,
group, religion, etc.) then is it possible to
escape ideological ways of thinking about
politics?
12. Escaping Ideology? Political
Philosophy and Political Science
Apathy and political withdrawal
Plato’s Cave – the ascent of the political
philosopher to contemplative theory
Political science – just the “facts”, please
On the importance of being self-conscious,
self-critical citizens
13. Studying Ideologies ….
…to help refine our thinking about political
ideas
Self-conscious, self-critical about
ideologies
Historical Perspective: place your ideas/values
in historical context
Sense of realism: recognize the multiplicity of
conflicting political ideas/values: the “necessity
of opposition”
Sense of responsibility: giving an account of
what you believe and why you hold such
beliefs