End of Ideology | PSIR Optional for UPSC

PYQs

It may be defined as the “end of debate of contradicting ideologies”.
Daniel Bell premised the End of Ideology Hypothesis. The End of Ideology thesis argues that “ideological differences will decrease as nations experience modernization”.
With modernization, a broad consensus among intellectuals on political issues is established, which is based on commonly accepted principles. Hence, the debate of ideology ends to a large extent.
E.g. As per Bell, while ideological debates had been exhausted in the West, new ideologies were emerging and driving politics in Asia and Africa.
The current western world accepts a system of political pluralism, instead of sticking to political monism (ideology).
Good ideas are taken from different ideologies, and the negative ones are discarded. Some examples of the commonly accepted principles which leads to end of ideology are as follows:
- Acceptance of Welfare State.
- The desirability of decentralized power.
- A system of mixed economy,
- Establishment of liberal international trade.
- Economic sustainability and National security.,
- Expanding employment in the tertiary sector.

Birth of Ideology: Ideology emerges as a 'coherent system of ideas' that “rely on a few basic assumptions which may or may not have any factual basis”.
Revolution: In ‘The Anatomy of Revolution’, Crane Brinton said that new ideology spreads when there is extreme ideocracy, or there is discontent with an old ideology. The revolution thus is seen as a reaction to ideocracy.
Decline of the prevailing ideology and birth of a new ideology due to revolution.
End of ideology.

At an advanced stage of development, the political ideology of the State and its citizens does not matter significantly.
The capitalist and communist countries produce similar results at an advanced level of development.
Political ideology has become irrelevant among "sensible" people, and that the polity of the future would be driven by a common system. John Summers (2011).