Advanced Placement
Comparative Government

mr. crawford

Unit One,Part II

Ideas are important in comparative politics. Although they are not the only influence shaping modern political events, no political analysis can be complete without an examination of ideas, and ideology. The term "ideology" was coined by an eighteenth century philosopher to describe the "science" of ideas, and most modern ideologies are based on the ideas of great political thinkers such as Hobbes, Rousseau, Smith, and Marx. However, ideology differs from philosophy in that ideology is not a calm, rational attempt to understand an existing system, but rather a deep commitment to fundamentally transform that system. An ideology is not just an image of the best possible society, it is also the chief means of constructing such a society. In short, an ideology is a plan. A plan which demands action, not abstract mental images. And as political philosophy becomes more applied and less abstract, philosophers' ideas are often simplified, popularized, and changed beyond recognition. In the process, ideas become ideology, and ideology becomes the cement holding together mass movements, political parties, and even the basis for violent revolution. However, ideologies rarely work precisely the way their advocates claim, and all ideologies contain a certain amount of wishful thinking that frequently collapses in the face of reality. This unit will trace the most influential and significant "isms" of the modern era, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and examine their transformation into practical institutional structures in different nations during the modern era

Questions and Concepts:

• What is the collective value system of each ideology?
• What is human nature according to each belief system?
• What are the primary goals of each ideology?
• Are there any inherent contradictions in each belief system?
• Would a specific ideology be classified as "left", "center", or "right"? Why?
• Which ideology is most appealing? Why?
• Is every ideology "moral"? Why or why not?
• How does the idealism described in each system translate into practical application?
• Give examples of national programs based on each ideology.
• What is the nature of the state according to each belief system? What is the state's purpose?
• Does every system recognize "rights", "justice", "equality", or "freedom"? How does each system define these terms?
• How much should the state serve the people, and how much should the people serve the state?
• When, if ever, do the people have the right to overthrow a law, the government, or the state?

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