Ideologies (Ch. 1) Flashcards
Define:
Ideology
Definition: a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy
- Considered to be a set of principles or ideas that explain our world and our place within it. All ideologies contain a set of beliefs and values about similar things
- Ideologies often influence a person’s identity
- A person and/or group can embrace an ideology because it mirrors their beliefs and values about the world
- A person can also reject an ideology often based on differences in core beliefs
What is the point of idelogies?
All ideologies are concerned with the essential questions of life, the answers to which form the characteristics of that ideology…
- What are humans like, and why do they act as they do? (human nature)
- How should society be organized? (structure of society)
- How has the world worked in the past? (interpretations of history)
- How should it work in the future? (visions for the future)
What are the 4 different characteristics of an ideology?
- Human Nature
- Structure of society
- Interpretations of history
- Visions for the future
Define:
Human Nature
(as a characteristic of an ideology)
- Beliefs about human nature are fundamental to any ideology
- This characteristic of an ideology refers to core characteristics shared by all people, including: feelings, psychology, and behaviours
Define:
Structure of Society
(as a characteristic of an ideology)
- Social structures bind us together as a society and help the society to function in an orderly fashion
- The social structures of any society can reflect the beliefs and values of that society and give insight to their way of life
- By doing things like enforcing minimum wage, governments try to maintain the structure of what they perceive to be a fair society.
- There are also informal social structures; these are the unwritten rules regarding acceptable social behaviour and actions.
- For example, some societies show more respect for people who are elderly and disadvantaged, or place more importance on gender equality, than others do.
Define:
Interpretations of History
(as a characteristic of an ideology)
- This is another characteristic because the past events of our lives tend to have an influence on the beliefs and values that we hold, and affect the way we interpret the world
- Countries may also have ideological interpretations of their history that affect the identities of their citizens
- This sometimes manifests as demonstrations of patriotism, in which the citizens tell their stories to each other and the world. (ex. Remembrance Day; Canadians pay tribute to the men and women who made sacrifices to protect the liberal democratic traditions of Canada)
- These stories form a country’s historical interpretations, and provides it with an ideology that guides its subsequent actions
- Unfortunately these stories are also often altered and can tell an untruthful or unrealistic version of the past (ex. Canadian Residential Schools)
Define:
Visions for the Future
(as a characteristic of an ideology)
- Ideologies often have a vision for what the future should be like
- This vision of the future will help guide the actions of people who embrace the ideology
Define:
Themes of Ideology
- Most ideologies talk about or are concerned with certain themes and in some cases, one or two themes are the predominate focus(es)
- The themes of an ideology are the common themes of concern in relation to that ideology
What are the six common themes of an ideology?
- Nation
- Class
- Race
- Enviroment & Relationship to the Land
- Gender
- Religion
Define:
Nation
(as a theme of an ideology)
Feelings of being a part of a collective group (based in nationalism); a community of people usually occupying a defined territory, often politically independent
Ex. Seeking self-determination as a nation
Define:
Class
(as a theme of an ideology)
A division of society, usually defined by social/economic status, income, wealth, or privilege
Ex. Blue collar workers (trades), professional workers (lawyers, accountants, etc.), entrepreneurs, etc.
Define:
Race
(as a theme of an ideology)
A grouping of people distinguished by biological traits including ethnicity, skin colour, ancestry, etc.
Ex. Seek to eradicate racial discrimination/injustice, assert superiority of one race over another (Nazis), etc.
Define:
Enviroment & Relationship to the Land
(as a theme of an ideology)
The natural surroundings in which a person lives, their connection to those surroundings, and how their surroundings can influence how one sees the world
Ex. Aboriginal way of life is much more connected to nature (centred around ecological wisdom)
Define:
Gender
(as a theme of an ideology)
Social division based on gender, sexual orientation, and sometimes even beliefs (believes in gender binary vs gender fluid, or vice versa)
Ex. Feminist ideologies concerned with attaining equal legal, political rights & social equality for women, LGBTQ advocacy, etc.
Define:
Religion
(as a theme of an ideology)
The worship of one or more deities and acceptance of a particular set of values associated with that worship
Ex. Some ideologies (including liberalism) promote freedom of religion, other ideologies attempt to create a society based on the values of a particular religion
