The Party The Party SpectrumSpectrum

Beyond Left and RightBeyond Left and Right

IdeologyIdeology A A political ideologypolitical ideology is a certain ethical is a certain ethical set of ideals, set of ideals, principles, doctrines, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of myths or symbols of a social movement, a social movement, institution, class, and institution, class, and or large group that or large group that explains how society explains how society should work, and should work, and offers some political offers some political and cultural and cultural blueprint for a blueprint for a certain social order. certain social order. A political ideology A political ideology largely concerns largely concerns itself with how to itself with how to allocate power and allocate power and to what ends it to what ends it should be usedshould be used

Political IdeologiesPolitical Ideologies

Political ideologies Political ideologies have two have two dimensions:dimensions:

GoalsGoals: how society : how society should work (or be should work (or be arranged). arranged).

MethodsMethods: the most : the most appropriate ways appropriate ways to achieve the ideal to achieve the ideal arrangementarrangement

Aristotle: Wrote his Politics as an extension of his Aristotle: Wrote his Politics as an extension of his Nicomachean Ethics. Notable for the theories that humans Nicomachean Ethics. Notable for the theories that humans are social animals, and that the polis (Ancient Greek city are social animals, and that the polis (Ancient Greek city state) existed to bring about the good life appropriate to such state) existed to bring about the good life appropriate to such animals. His political theory is based upon an ethics of animals. His political theory is based upon an ethics of perfectionism (as is Marx's, on some readings). perfectionism (as is Marx's, on some readings).

Mencius : One of the most important thinkers in the Mencius : One of the most important thinkers in the Confucian school, he is the first theorist to make a coherent Confucian school, he is the first theorist to make a coherent argument for an obligation of rulers to the ruled. argument for an obligation of rulers to the ruled.

Thomas Aquinas : In synthesizing Christian theology and Thomas Aquinas : In synthesizing Christian theology and Peripatetic teaching, Aquinas contends that God's gift of Peripatetic teaching, Aquinas contends that God's gift of higher reason—manifest in human law by way of the divine higher reason—manifest in human law by way of the divine virtues—gives way to the assembly of righteous government. virtues—gives way to the assembly of righteous government.

Niccolò Machiavelli: First systematic analyses of: (1) how Niccolò Machiavelli: First systematic analyses of: (1) how consent of a populace is negotiated between and among consent of a populace is negotiated between and among rulers rather than simply a naturalistic (or theological) given rulers rather than simply a naturalistic (or theological) given of the structure of society; (2) precursor to the concept of of the structure of society; (2) precursor to the concept of ideology in articulating the epistemological structure of ideology in articulating the epistemological structure of commands and law. commands and law.

Thomas Hobbes: Generally considered to have first Thomas Hobbes: Generally considered to have first articulated how the concept of a social contract that justifies articulated how the concept of a social contract that justifies the actions of rulers (even where contrary to the individual the actions of rulers (even where contrary to the individual desires of governed citizens), can be reconciled with a desires of governed citizens), can be reconciled with a conception of sovereignty conception of sovereignty

John Locke: Like Hobbes, described a social contract theory based John Locke: Like Hobbes, described a social contract theory based on citizens' fundamental rights in the state of nature. He departed on citizens' fundamental rights in the state of nature. He departed from Hobbes in that, based on the assumption of a society in which from Hobbes in that, based on the assumption of a society in which moral values are independent of governmental authority and widely moral values are independent of governmental authority and widely shared, he argued for a government with power limited to the shared, he argued for a government with power limited to the protection of personal property. His arguments may have been protection of personal property. His arguments may have been deeply influential to the formation of the United States Constitution. deeply influential to the formation of the United States Constitution.

Baron de Montesquieu: Analyzed protection of the people by a Baron de Montesquieu: Analyzed protection of the people by a "balance of powers" in the divisions of a state. "balance of powers" in the divisions of a state.

David Hume: Hume criticized the social contract theory of John David Hume: Hume criticized the social contract theory of John Locke and others as resting on a myth of some actual agreement. Locke and others as resting on a myth of some actual agreement. Hume was a realist in recognizing the role of force to forge the Hume was a realist in recognizing the role of force to forge the existence of states and that consent of the governed was merely existence of states and that consent of the governed was merely hypothetical. He also introduced the concept of utility, later picked hypothetical. He also introduced the concept of utility, later picked up on and developed by Jeremy Bentham. up on and developed by Jeremy Bentham.

François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire): French Enlightenment writer, François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire): French Enlightenment writer, poet, and philosopher famous for his advocacy of civil liberties, poet, and philosopher famous for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and free trade. including freedom of religion and free trade.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Analyzed the social contract as an Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Analyzed the social contract as an expression of the general will, and controversially argued in favour expression of the general will, and controversially argued in favour of absolute democracy where the people at large would act as of absolute democracy where the people at large would act as sovereign. sovereign.

Immanuel Kant: Argued that participation in civil society is Immanuel Kant: Argued that participation in civil society is undertaken not for self-preservation, as per Thomas Hobbes, but as undertaken not for self-preservation, as per Thomas Hobbes, but as a moral duty. First modern thinker who fully analyzed structure and a moral duty. First modern thinker who fully analyzed structure and meaning of obligation. Argued that an international organization was meaning of obligation. Argued that an international organization was needed to preserve world peace. needed to preserve world peace.

Adam Smith: Often said to have founded modern economics; explained Adam Smith: Often said to have founded modern economics; explained emergence of economic benefits from the self-interested behaviour ("the emergence of economic benefits from the self-interested behaviour ("the invisible hand") of artisans and traders. While praising its efficiency, Smith invisible hand") of artisans and traders. While praising its efficiency, Smith also expressed concern about the effects of industrial labour (e.g. repetitive also expressed concern about the effects of industrial labour (e.g. repetitive activity) on workers. His work on moral sentiments sought to explain social activity) on workers. His work on moral sentiments sought to explain social bonds outside the economic sphere. bonds outside the economic sphere.

Edmund Burke: Irish member of the British parliament, Burke is credited with Edmund Burke: Irish member of the British parliament, Burke is credited with the creation of conservative thought. Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in the creation of conservative thought. Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France is the most popular of his writings where he denounced the French France is the most popular of his writings where he denounced the French revolution. Burke was one of the biggest supporters of the American revolution. Burke was one of the biggest supporters of the American RevolutionRevolution

John Stuart Mill: A utilitarian, and the person who named the system; he goes John Stuart Mill: A utilitarian, and the person who named the system; he goes further than Bentham by laying the foundation for liberal democratic thought further than Bentham by laying the foundation for liberal democratic thought in general and modern, as opposed to classical, liberalism in particular. in general and modern, as opposed to classical, liberalism in particular. Articulated the place of individual liberty in an otherwise utilitarian Articulated the place of individual liberty in an otherwise utilitarian framework framework

Karl Marx: In large part, added the historical dimension to an understanding Karl Marx: In large part, added the historical dimension to an understanding of society, culture and economics. Created the concept of of society, culture and economics. Created the concept of ideologyideology in the in the sense of (true or false) beliefs that shape and control social actions. Analyzed sense of (true or false) beliefs that shape and control social actions. Analyzed the fundamental nature of class as a mechanism of governance and social the fundamental nature of class as a mechanism of governance and social interaction interaction

Giovanni Gentile: Known as the 'Philosopher of Fascism' and ghost-wrote the Giovanni Gentile: Known as the 'Philosopher of Fascism' and ghost-wrote the Doctrine of Fascism with Benito Mussolini and argued that the Fascist State is Doctrine of Fascism with Benito Mussolini and argued that the Fascist State is an ethical and educational state and that the individual should put the an ethical and educational state and that the individual should put the interests of the State first interests of the State first

Friedrich Hayek: He argued that central planning was inefficient because Friedrich Hayek: He argued that central planning was inefficient because members of central bodies could not know enough to match the preferences of members of central bodies could not know enough to match the preferences of consumers and workers with existing conditions. Hayek further argued that consumers and workers with existing conditions. Hayek further argued that central economic planning - a mainstay of socialism - would lead to a "total' central economic planning - a mainstay of socialism - would lead to a "total' state with dangerous power. He advocated free-market capitalism in which state with dangerous power. He advocated free-market capitalism in which the main role of the state is to maintain the rule of law the main role of the state is to maintain the rule of law

Isaiah Berlin: Developed the distinction between positive and negative liberty Isaiah Berlin: Developed the distinction between positive and negative liberty

Class TaskClass Task

Divide yourself up into FIVESDivide yourself up into FIVES

Each group is to be given a party for Each group is to be given a party for which they must thoroughly which they must thoroughly research and create a PowerPoint research and create a PowerPoint presentation as well as definitive presentation as well as definitive classroom notes (2 sides each classroom notes (2 sides each member of group)that can be member of group)that can be uploaded onto Moodleuploaded onto Moodle

LabourLabour What is socialism?What is socialism?

In what ways has Clause Four In what ways has Clause Four been changed? What was it?been changed? What was it?

How did Blairism change How did Blairism change Labour? What is New Labour? What is New Labour?Labour?

Ho did Labour fare in the Ho did Labour fare in the 2005 and 2010 elections?2005 and 2010 elections?

What are the main strengths What are the main strengths and weaknesses of Labourand weaknesses of Labour’’s s position today?position today?

ConservativeConservative What does Conservatism What does Conservatism

stand for as an ideology?stand for as an ideology?

What are the main ideas What are the main ideas associated with the Modern associated with the Modern Conservative Party?Conservative Party?

What is the difference What is the difference between One Nation and a between One Nation and a Thatchetite Conservative?Thatchetite Conservative?

What particular slant has What particular slant has David Cameron given to David Cameron given to Conservative Party Thinking?Conservative Party Thinking?

What are the problems and What are the problems and prospects of the prospects of the Conservatives today?Conservatives today?

The Lib Dems and the The Lib Dems and the Rest….Rest….

Who are the major minor Who are the major minor Political Parties in Political Parties in Britain, what do they Britain, what do they each stand for?each stand for?

What do the Liberal What do the Liberal Democrats stand for? Democrats stand for? Why were they formed?Why were they formed?

What role do these What role do these parties play in the parties play in the political systempolitical system

What are some of the What are some of the reasons why first past the reasons why first past the post is a disadvantage at post is a disadvantage at the polls for the minor the polls for the minor parties?parties?