The document summarizes different political ideologies in the United States, including liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, populism, and radical/reactionary views. It outlines key beliefs for each ideology on a variety of issues like the economy, social conduct, crime policies, and national security. Liberals generally favor more government intervention in the economy and social welfare programs, while conservatives prefer less regulation and support for individual responsibility. Moderates fall in between these perspectives.

1. Chapter 8 – Political Culture
and Ideologies
12th Grade POD – Ms. Nestico

2. Political Ideologies
 Ideology – a set or system of ideas,
beliefs and values held by a collective
group of people – “school of thought”
 Belief – an idea held to be true by a
group
 Value – a belief about whether an idea is
right or wrong
Everything in life is “political”

3. Primary Ideologies in the US
Ideology Party Wing
Radical
Libertarian
Liberal Democrat Left
Moderate -----------------------------------
Conservative Republican Right
Populist
Reactionary

4. Comparison & Contrast
 Both liberals and conservatives agree
that the government should have a good
bit of control and regulation, but in
different areas
 Liberals want strong control/regulation
over the economy
 Conservatives want strong regulation
over social conduct

5. Economic Characteristics
(Liberal focus)
 Money and the distribution of wealth
 Stock Market
 Corporations/Big Business
 Taxation
 Employment
 Trade/Investments
 Banking Industry
 Social Programs to help those in need

6. Social Conduct Characteristics
(Conservative Focus)
 Censorship
 Morals and Values
 Drugs
 Pro-Business
 Oppose Higher Taxes
 Tough punishment for crime

7. Most popular US ideologies
 Liberal – strong control & regulation of
economy
 Conservative – strong control &
regulation of social conduct
 Libertarian – least amount of
government control in both the social
conduct & economic realms
 Populist – increased government
control over both social & economic
realms

8. In terms of Government Regulation
& Control
SOCIAL CONDUCT
E Libertarian Conservative
C 22% 30%
O
N
O Liberal Populist
M 16% 20%
I
C

9. Ideology Spectrum
Moderate
Liberal Conservative
Radical Reactionary

10. Liberal
 Most interested in protecting individual rights
and civil liberties
 Change is usually a good thing
 Anti-federalist roots
 Increase in social welfare programs
 More government intervention of the
economy to remedy the defects of capitalism
 Can be socialistic in nature

11. Liberal
 Robinhood Theory – Redistribution of wealth
 Usually see an increase in taxes
 Believe in the positive use of government to
bring about justice and equality of opportunity
 Seeks protection against inadequate
healthcare, housing and education
 Believes in affirmative action programs,
unions’ right to organize and strike, etc.

12. Conservative
 Most interested in what’s best for the
greater good of society
 Free market economy
 Capitalistic – survival of the fittest, every
man for himself
 Rich typically get richer
 Lower taxes overall and cut government
spending

13. Conservative
 Functions of government should
encourage family values, protect the
nation from foreign enemies, preserve
law and order
 Human needs should be cared for by
families and charities, not the
government

14. Radical
 Advocates
extreme measures to change
government policy

15. Radical
 Civil disobedience
 Texas v. Johnson
 Vietnam
war demonstrations on college
campuses

16. Reactionary
 Advocates extreme measures to
conserve ideals and uphold ultra-
conservative use of policies and
government
 Exceptionally intolerant of others and
their viewpoints

17. Reactionary
 More violent acts of civil disobedience
 Abortionclinic bombers
 White supremacy groups typically found
here

18. Economic Policy
Liberals Conservatives
 Government should  Free market economy
regulate business to  Less amount of regulation
protect public interest brings about more
 Rich should be taxed competition
higher in order to pay for  Taxes should be kept as
public services low as possible
 Government spending on  Government welfare
social welfare programs programs destroy
increases people’s incentive to work
hard.

19. Policies on Crime
Liberals Conservatives
 Government should  Increase police forces,
alleviate social problems special task forces and
such as poverty, prisons.
unemployment, housing  Stop courts from coddling
inadequacies, etc. as criminals
these are the preliminary  Make punishment more
reasons for crime harsh and strict to deter
 Rehabilitate criminals to future crime
remedy the problem

20. Social Policy
Liberal Conservative
 Freedom of choice and  Government chooses
government should fund it what’s best, not the
when necessary individual
 Protect minority rights,  Fend for yourself –
especially of African survival of the fittest
American, Hispanic/  Should allow traditional
Latino, women, non- observations in public
WASP, poor, etc.) policy

21. National Security Policy
Liberal Conservative
 Government should  Government should
support “human rights” pursue national/
throughout the world international interests of
 Reduce military spending the US
 Diplomacy instead of war  Increase military
spending
 War can stimulate the
economy

22. The issues
 Economy
 Abortion
 Death Penalty

23. The Issues
 War in Iraq
 Education
 Energy

24. The Issues
 Drugs
 Healthcare
 Poverty

25. What’s your ideology?
 Go to:
http://www.politopia.com/
quiz_index.php3