Lecture Notes: An Orientation to Political Science - Chapter 2: Ideologies of the Individual

Key Concepts

• Understanding political ideologies: liberalism, conservatism, and socialism
• Exploration of equality, freedom, and justice within these ideologies
• The role of ideologies in shaping political beliefs
• Ideologies are normative (beliefs/values) not objective facts

What is Justice?

• Central question in Western political philosophy (e.g., Plato's Republic)
• Justice involves normative beliefs about what politics ought to be
• Ideologies provide answers to questions about human nature, freedom, and property
• Variations in concepts of equality (comprehensive, opportunity, outcomes) and freedom (negative, positive)

Political Ideologies

Classical Liberalism

• Focus on individual freedom, equality
• Emerged during the Enlightenment
• John Locke as a key figure: natural rights, private property
• Criticism of aristocracy, promotion of capitalist class
• Relationship with libertarianism: both value liberty, but with different approaches

Modern Liberalism

• Emphasis on individual equality
• Developed during the Progressive Era
• Government as a tool for social improvement (anti-poverty, education, healthcare)
• New Deal Era: economic policies, civil rights
• Active government necessary for justice

Liberal Feminism

• Equality between sexes as central
• Influenced by classical/modern liberalism
• Historical overlap with first/second-wave feminism
• Critiques of capitalism (less than socialist feminism)

Socialism

• Collective/social ownership
• Greater emphasis on equality over liberty
• Critiques capitalism as a source of discrimination
• Variants include Marxism, democratic socialism

Democratic Socialism

• Nordic Model: strong welfare, high redistribution
• Social ownership alongside market economies
• U.S. healthcare as example of mixed socialist-capitalist policy

Socialist Feminism

• Critiques capitalism for perpetuating patriarchy
• Intersects economic/cultural oppression
• Advocates for financial independence and robust social policies

Classical Conservatism

• Value traditions, moral order, social bonds
• Critique of individualism, emphasis on hierarchy
• Edmund Burke: critique of French Revolution

Modern Conservatism

• Coalition of social and economic conservatives
• Social conservatives emphasize morality, tradition
• Economic conservatives value market freedom, less intervention

Conservative Feminism

• Contested term, focuses on ethical principles
• Concern for others, compassion, care
• Critique of liberal feminism's focus on sameness

Conclusion

• Justice varies across ideologies: balance of freedom/equality
• Liberalism, socialism, conservatism offer foundational beliefs
• Different ideologies apply variations of equality and freedom
• Next focus: ideological foundations of political institutions

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