Ideology and the Scope of Government

• Political IdeologyPolitical Ideology is a consistent set of values and beliefs about the proper purpose and scope of government

• How far should government go to How far should government go to maintain order, provide public maintain order, provide public goods/services, and promote equality?goods/services, and promote equality?

Two Dilemmas of Government

• The original dilemma of The original dilemma of government involves freedom government involves freedom versus order. versus order.

• The modern dilemma of The modern dilemma of government involves freedom government involves freedom versus equality.versus equality.

Importance of Order and Freedom

World Values Survey World Values Survey 1999-20011999-2001

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=363&year=2010

Ideology and the Scope of GovernmentIdeology and the Scope of Government

Where is the USA in regards to Political and Where is the USA in regards to Political and Economic Theories?Economic Theories?

Political Theories• Totalitarianism Totalitarianism = govt. should have unlimited

power to control all sectors of society (business, labor, arts, sports)

• Liberalism Liberalism =govt. should leave individuals free to follow their own pursuits (but allows some limited regulation by government)

• Libertarianism Libertarianism =opposed to all govt. action except as needed to protect life and property

• Anarchism Anarchism =opposes govt. in any form; values freedom above all else

Economic Theories• SocialismSocialism = the central govt. plays a strong role in

regulating existing private industry and directing the economy and allows some private ownership– Democratic Socialism is most common today in Europe

• CapitalismCapitalism = the govt. favors free enterprise (privately owned businesses) to operate the marketplace/economy

• LaissezLaissez FaireFaire =govt. should not intervene in the marketplace/economy

• CommunismCommunism = involves a theory that gives ownership of all land and productive facilities to the people; the government (or the “state”)

CapitalismCapitalism v. v. SocialismSocialism• EqualityEquality of opportunityof opportunity is the concern of capitalismcapitalism:

1. Everyone should have an equal chance2. Equality of outcome is believed to be impossible

• Equality of outcomeEquality of outcome is the concern of socialismsocialism:1. People should be as equal as possible in a) Income b) Education c) Occupational status2. Equality of opportunity is believed to be

impossible

Political Labels in the Political Labels in the UUSSAA

• LiberalLiberal = willing to use government to promote freedom but not order

• ConservativeConservative = willing to use government to promote order but not equality

Liberal*Liberal* in USAin USA Conservative* in USAConservative* in USA

-wants a more -wants govt to limit activist govt. itself at all levels

-looks to govt. to -wants less govt. solve problems control -wants change in -keep the status policy rather than quo than change policy status quo -stresses individual -passion for helping responsibility and disadvantaged and freedom in markets unorganized -supports laws for-supports freedom on control on moral or moral or

personal choice issues

personal choice issues ***in most***in most cases***cases***

http://idealog.org/en/index