Political Ideologies | PSIR Optional for UPSC

PYQ

An ideology is a collection of ideas.
The term ideology was coined by a French Enlightenment philosopher Antoine Destutt de Tracy. He conceived it in 1796 “as the science of ideas”, which is a “rational collection of ideas”, as opposed to the irrational impulses of the mob.
Ideology is a 'coherent system of ideas' that “rely on a few basic assumptions which may or may not have any factual basis”.

A political ideology is a certain set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution, class or large group. It explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order.
Ideologies tend to identify themselves by their position on the political spectrum. Eg. the left, the centre or the right.
Examples of political ideologies: Anarchism, Authoritarianism, Communism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Fascism and Nazism, Feminism, Liberalism, Nationalism, Populism, Religio-political ideologies, Socialism.
Some political parties follow a certain ideology very diligently. On the other hand, others may take broad inspiration from a group of related ideologies.
Political ideologies have two dimensions:
- (1) Goals: how society should be organized; and
- (2) Methods: the most appropriate way to achieve this goal.
Generally, each political ideology contains certain ideas on what it considers to be the best form of government (e.g. autocracy or democracy) and the best economic system (e.g. capitalism or socialism).
Political ideology is a term fraught with problems. It is called "the most elusive concept in the whole of social science". - D. McLellan, Ideology, 1986.

Antoine Destutt de Tracy devised the term for a "science of ideas," basing such upon two things:
- the sensations that people experience as they interact with the material world; and
- the ideas that form in their minds due to those sensations.
Marx's analysis sees ideology as “a system of falsehoods”. As per them, it is a deliberately promulgated system by the ruling class as a means of self-stability.
In the Marxist base and superstructure model, base denotes the relations of production and modes of production, and superstructure denotes the dominant ideology (i.e. religious, legal, political systems).

It must be logically coherent.
It must provide guidance towards action.
It is a set of beliefs or philosophies attributed to a person or group of persons.
It may or may not have any proven basis or universal applicability. Hence, ideologies are neither necessarily right nor wrong.
It serves as the seed around which further thought grows.
It is accepted by a particular social group or class.
It is an action-oriented sets of beliefs.

Political ideology is a “passionate” search for a better society. Some examples of political ideologies are Marxism, liberalism, nationalism etc.
On the other hand, political theory is a “disinterested” search for a better societal or political arrangement.
Political ideology is a general and a wider concept. On the other hand, political theory is strict adherence to certain principles.
However, there are some same terms for both political ideologies and political theories. E.g. liberalism, socialism etc. But it doesn't necessarily mean that they are identical entities.

Ideocracy is "governance of a state according to the principles of a particular political ideology".
When a political ideology becomes a dominant feature of a government, it is known as ideocracy.
It is a government based on a monistic ideology, which is distinct from an authoritarian state, which is characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms.
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.