Presentation for POL 101

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• Presentation for POL 101
• Dr. Kevin Lasher

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Understanding
IDEOLOGY
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IDEOLOGY

• Definitions
• Classical/philosophical ideology
• 20th/21st Century American ideology

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Political World is Very Complex

• Constitution and Laws
• Taxes and Spending
• Parties, Elections, Candidates
• Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
• National defense, morality, citizenship, others

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Ideology Makes Sense of Complexity
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Definition of Ideology

• Ideology is a mental framework for thinking about
  governmental, economic and social systems
• Ideology is a political mind-set

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Definition of Ideology

• Ideology is a simplification or a short-cut
• Good Helps us to make sense of
  complicated political world
• Bad Leaves out certain details

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IDEOLOGY

• Definitions
• Classical/philosophical ideology
• 20th/21st Century American ideology

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Classical Ideology

• Thinking about political changes in Europe of
  1700s
• Coming of capitalism/industrialization,
  individual rights and democratization
• Break-down of elitist, precapitalist societies
• Radicals and reactionaries came much later

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Classical Ideology
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism
Conservatism Reactionary
STATUSQUO
Existing political, economic, social arrangements
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Classical Ideology Conservatism
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism
Conservatism Reactionary
Conservatives want slow, limited change. They
like the existing arrangements.
STATUSQUO
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Classical Ideology Liberalism
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism
Conservatism Reactionary
Liberals want moderate, significant change. They
like and dislike existing arrangements.
STATUSQUO
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Classical Ideology Radicalism
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism
Conservatism Reactionary
Radicals want revolutionary change. They hate
existing arrangements and want to destroy them.
STATUSQUO
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Classical Ideology Radicalism
Radicals appear in 1800s (after
capitalism)
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Classical Ideology Reactionary-ism
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism
Conservatism Reactionary
Reactionaries want retrogressive change. They
dislikeexisting arrangements and want to return
to an earlier system.
STATUSQUO
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Classical Ideology Reactionary-ism
Reactionaries appear in 1900s
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Classical Ideology Problems

• Ideology is defined in relation to the status
  quo.
• The status quo is a constantly changing
  phenomenon.

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1930s New Deal Programs
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism
Conservatism Reactionary
STATUSQUO
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2000s New Deal Programs
Existing Programs
Radicals Liberalism
Conservatism Reactionary
STATUSQUO
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1960s Civil Rights Programs
CHANGE
Radicals Liberalism
Conservatism Reactionary
STATUSQUO
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2000s Civil Rights Programs
Existing Programs
Radicals Liberalism
Conservatism Reactionary
STATUSQUO
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IDEOLOGY

• Definitions
• Classical/philosophical ideology
• 20th/21st Century American ideology

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Classical Ideology
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Late 20th/Early 21st Century American Ideology

• Not so concerned with change
• More concerned with broad attitudes toward
  governmental action

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American Ideology Themes

• Attitude toward government regulation of U.S.
  economy
• Attitude toward government regulation of personal
  issues

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Government Regulation of Economy
?
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Government Regulation of Economy FOR

• Government has an important role to play in
  managing-regulating the U.S. economy
• Social welfare programs
• Progressive taxation
• Environmental laws, civil rights laws, laws to
  protect workers and consumers

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Government Regulation of Economy AGAINST

• Government regulation of U.S. economy should be
  minimized
• Excessive regulation stifles economic growth
• Market forces can solve many problems facing
  society
• NOT laissez-faire capitalism

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Government Regulation of Personal Matters
?
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Government Regulation of Personal Matters FOR

• Government has an important role to play in
  regulating-controlling peoples personal lives
• Close church-state relations desirable
• Government promote law order, traditional
  values, nuclear family

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Government Regulation of Personal Matters
AGAINST

• Government should stay out of peoples
  personal-moral lives
• Wall of separation of church and state
• People can make own decisions about morality,
  sexual behavior, raising children, entertainment
• NOT lawlessness or immorality

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American Ideologies

• Liberalism
• Conservatism
• Libertarianism
• Populism (Communitarianism)

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American Ideology
Government Intervention in Economy

FOR AGAINST
Government Intervention in Personal Matters
AGAINST FOR
LIBERALS
LIBERTARIANS
CONSERVATIVES
POPULISTS
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American Ideology
Government Intervention in Economy

FOR AGAINST
Government Intervention in Personal Matters
AGAINST FOR
LIBERALS LIBERTARIANS POPULISTS
CONSERVATIVES
confused?
leave me alone
take care of me
confused?
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American Ideology
Government Intervention in Economy

FOR AGAINST
Government Intervention in Personal Matters
AGAINST FOR
LIBERALS LIBERTARIANS POPULISTS
CONSERVATIVES
Moderates
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Typical Ideological Division

(Left) (Center)
(Right)
Liberals Moderates
Conservatives

• Economic Issues?
• Personal Issues?
• Economic and personal issues?

Libertarians
Libertarians
Personal Issues
Economic Issues
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Typical Ideological DivisionBlue Collar Job
Loss

Liberals Moderates
Conservatives

• Liberals generous unemployment, government
  retraining programs
• Conservatives economic growth will produce
  better-paying jobs
• Moderates in-between policy
• Libertarians Side with conservatives winners
  and losers

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Typical Ideological DivisionHealth Care Reform

Liberals Moderates
Conservatives

• Liberals more than Obama-care, single-payer
  system
• Conservatives anti-Obama-care, modify existing
  private insurance
• Moderates embrace Obama-care as best reform of
  current system
• Libertarians Side with conservatives
  government stay out of health care

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Typical Ideological DivisionMedical Marijuana

Liberals Moderates
Conservatives

• Liberals no problem, maybe full
  legalization/decriminalization
• Conservatives social costs outweigh medical
  benefits, danger of slippery slope, all drugs
  are bad
• Moderates support for true medical cases, but
  dont think about legalization
• Libertarians Side with liberals toke up

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Typical Ideological DivisionGay Marriage

Liberals Moderates
Conservatives

• Liberals accept gay life-style government
  should recognize long-term commitment of gay
  couples
• Conservatives government must prohibit gay
  marriages violate sacred institution of
  marriage
• Moderates recognize partnership agreements
• Libertarians Side with liberals, none of my
  business

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What about Political Parties?