2 Political ideas and ideology Flashcards
What are the origins of the word ‘ideology’?
French philosopher Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836) –hoped would be science (like biology for ideas).
What did Marx mean by ‘ideology’?
A set of (false) ideas of ruling class, used to dominate and disguise exploitation.
What is the liberal concept of ideology?
A closed system of thought that claims monopoly on truth that does not tolerate other ideas. Unlike liberalism which is open and tolerates debate.
What is consumerist politics?
Phenomenon whereby parties act like businesses in marketplace aiming to attract consumers (voters).
How does consumerist politics contribute to de-ideologisation?
Easier to not have any fixed commitments (right or left-wing) in order to be able to change based on what consumers want.
John Locke dates?
1632-1704
Locke’s views were seen as justifying what historical event?
The Glorious Revolution of 1688
Who was replaced by whom in the Glorious Revolution of 1688?
James II, a Catholic king, was replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange.
Why did the English nobles support the Glorious Revolution?
They were concerned about James II’s Catholic sympathies and absolutist tendencies.
What was the upshot of the Glorious Revolution of 1688?
A shift towards constitutional monarchy, significantly limiting royal power and enhancing Parliamentary authority.
Following the Glorious Revolution, what did the Bill of Rights of 1689 and Toleration Act establish?
Bill of Rights of 1689 – fundamental principles of parliamentary democracy and civil liberties.
Toleration Act – religious tolerance.
What are civil liberties?
Fundamental rights and freedoms protected from infringement by the government
Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion, etc.
What was Locke’s social contract theory?
Governments are formed by the consent of the governed and are designed to protect the natural rights of individuals. If a government fails to do so, the people have the right to overthrow it.
What are Locke’s 3 fundamental natural rights?
Rights of individuals to life, liberty, and property.
In his “Letter Concerning Toleration” what does Locke argue for?
The separation of church and state –and believed that religious belief was a personal matter, not subject to coercion by the state.
Who was most influential advocate of separating church and state?
Martin Luther–doctrine of the “two kingdoms” distinguished between the spiritual realm (governed by God) and the temporal realm (governed by secular authorities).
Locke proposed that the mind was a ________ ______ at birth.
Locke proposed that the mind was a tabula rasa at birth.
What are John Locke’s three great works?
1 “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” 1689 –tabula rasa theory.
2 “Letter Concerning Toleration” 1689 –religious tolerance and separation of church and state.
3 “Two Treatises of Government” 1690 –social contract theory.
What is the ‘short 20th century’?
The period, shaped by ideological conflict, from start of WWI to fall of communism.
Karl Marx dates?
1818-83
What is Marx’s prescription for overcoming alienation of work?
Being able to see oneself in what is produced e.g., artisan making a chair
What is Marx’s concept of commodity fetishism (Warenfetischismus)?
When products are seen as having intrinsic value, independent of the work that created them. This perspective hides the social relationships and labor involved in production, leading to a focus on commodities rather than the people who make them.
Marx’s tenets of capitalist ideology:
Someone who doesn’t work is _________.
That someone who doesn’t work is worthless.
Marx’s tenets of capitalist ideology:
Leisure is ________.
Leisure is sinful.
Marx’s tenets of capitalist ideology:
More __________ means more ________
More belongings means more happiness.
Marx’s tenets of capitalist ideology:
Things and people are worthwhile if they ______ ___________.
Things and people are worthwhile if they make money.
Marx’s ideas were most influenced by which major historical event?
Industrial revolution
Why is there an inherent conflict between business owners and workers?
Business owners want more profit
Workers want higher wages
What is main reason that prevents workers from rebelling, according to Marx?
Because business owners also control ideology –through education system, religion, media –and teach workers that system is OK and that nothing can be done.
What is main principle of the bourgeois education system, according to Marx?
Learn to accept authority.
Marx: How does the legal system perpetuate inequality?
Business owners can afford better legal representation, and legal system sides with owners.
Marx: How does religion perpetuate exploitation?
Idea of obedience and being good to get into afterlife makes people politically inert.
Why did Lenin propose rule by a vanguard party, rather than by a Marxist dictatorship of the proletariat?
He believed that the proletariat was brainwashed by bourgeois ideas. It was driven by ‘trade union consciousness’ – the desire to improve working and living conditions –rather than the loftier goal of overthrowing capitalism.
What was Herbert Marcuse’s idea of “Repressive Tolerance” 1965 essay?
Given that in western liberal society, the expression of ideas is controlled by the media, this makes the spread of revolutionary ideas impossible –even with tolerance and free speech.
Marx: What would be the first phase of the initial ‘socialist’ period of development?
Dictatorship of the proletariat.
Marx - how would society transition from the dictatorship of the proletariat to full communism?
Private property would be abolished.
Centralised planning of economy, based on democratic participation.
State would wither away because not needed, and class distinctions would dissolve.
Surplus of labor would be distributed according to need.
