For a society to function there must be some organization, formal or informal, that facilitates decision-making. This is

achieved through political organizations. All political organizations have four main characteristics.

• Organization: the structure of the group. Each member of the group has a role, and they interact with each other to accomplish the collective goal.

• Decision-making processes: the process by which the group gathers input and decides on a course of action

• Order: the regulation of the activities of the group and its members. This regulation occurs through loyalty (dedication to the group) and sanctions (rewards and punishments).

• Security: ensuring the safety and well being of the group’s members

• Ideology is a system of beliefs that we use to explain our view of the world. In politics, ideology refers to the ideas, principles, and ethics that a political system is based on.

• The political spectrum: Political ideologies are often placed on a spectrum, with communism on the far left and fascism on the far right.

• “Left wing” implies collectivism, economic equality, and government intervention.

• “Right wing” implies individualism, economic liberty, and laissez-faire government.

IDEOLOGIES

Political Spectrum

MAJOR IDEOLOGIES

• Communism: a classless society, wherein everyone shares equally in the benefits of production. Political power is entirely centralized, with the government regulating the production and distribution of all material goods and wealth.

• Socialism: collective ownership and democratic administration of the means of production. Political power is heavily centralized, and there is an extensive network of social programs.

• Liberalism: emphasis on the autonomy of the individual in society. Liberalism calls for a free- market economy, transparent and accountable government, protection of basic human rights, a variety of social programs, and relatively broad interpretation of laws.

Liberalism

• Conservatism: emphasis on tradition and on maintaining the status quo. Conservatism emphasizes a laissez-faire economy, low taxes, few social programs, and strict interpretation of laws. It opposes large central government and radical ideologies. Innovation is accepted— even encouraged—but only so long as traditional values are not compromised.

Conservatism

Neo-conservatism

• Neo-conservatism: a realistic, practical, self- interested, and globally active style of government, in which ideology is secondary. For example, a Canadian neoconservative would support the regime changes enforced by the American/British-led coalition in Iraq, and want to foster closer military and economic ties with the United States.

Fascism

• Fascism: a strong, militaristic government that promotes the needs of the state without regard for the rights and freedoms of individuals. Under fascism, the state directly controls political, economic, cultural, and social systems.

• The state promotes the view that its constituents are superior because of their race or nationality. Fascist regimes do not tolerate any opposing viewpoints, and encourage their constituents to display conspicuous loyalty.

UNALIGNED IDEOLOGIES Anarchy

• Anarchy: the complete elimination of government control.

• An anarchist believes that the best form of government is no government at all.

• Instead, people voluntarily work together based on their mutual interests, essentially governing themselves.

• Historically, anarchic communities have only existed on a small scale.

Radicalism

• Radicalism: the promotion of a drastic or far- reaching change in political, economic, or social systems.

• Radicals can exist practically anywhere on the political spectrum, although there is no such thing as a “radical conservative.”

• The term “radical” is often used with a negative connotation, but radical groups can and do accomplish positive things. After all, women’s suffrage and racial equality were once radical ideas.

Reaction

• Reaction: the promotion of a reversal of political change or reversion to a previous system of government.

• Whenever a major change in government occurs, there are those who remain loyal to the previous way of doing things.

• Reactionaries, like radicals, can be part of any group on the political spectrum.

Link to Animated SpectrumLink to Animated Spectrum

POLITICAL SYSTEMSDEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP

• Democracy comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “government by the people.” Under democracy, every citizen has a say in the way the country is governed.

• One form of democracy is direct democracy, in which citizens vote directly on government decisions. Direct democracy is rarely used in large-scale governments of countries and states or provinces. If the government wants people to vote on something directly, a referendum is held.

• Because referenda are expensive and time- consuming, it is much more common to make decisions through representative democracy, in which a group of citizens elect one person to represent them in government.

• One of the keys to democracy is that these representatives, even the head of government, can be replaced through periodic elections. This encourages representatives to carry out the wishes of the electorate; if they do not, they are unlikely to be re-elected.

Democracy Continued

Democracy Continued

• In general, elected representatives are members of ideologically-based political parties.

• More parties mean more choices for the electorate, but it also decreases the chance of a majority government.

• Majority governments, where the ruling party holds more than half the available seats, are far more stable and efficient than minority governments.

• Another democratic characteristic is that certain rights and freedoms are guaranteed by law. For example, people are free to express themselves as they wish and associate with whom they wish, provided that they do not infringe upon another person’s rights.

• A free press means that the flow of information is outside of government control. Finally, all persons are considered equal under the law: elected representatives must obey the same laws as ordinary citizens.

Democracy Continued

Dictatorships

• Dictatorships, on the other hand, are run by an individual or small group. Dictators have absolute power, and do not normally give it up willingly.

• There may be elections, but these are heavily biased or “rigged.” For example, in an election, only one name might appear on the ballot, or the ballots are simply ignored.

• Dictatorships rarely come to power through democratic means; they are usually established through revolutions or military coups.

Dictatorships Continued

• Some dictatorships are based on ideology: the dictator and his allies seize power so that they can impose a particular set of beliefs and values.

• Others are based on greed: the dictator and his or her allies seize power to enrich themselves. In both cases, dictators work actively to eliminate anyone who opposes them or their rule. They control the citizens through indoctrination (instilling loyalty to the regime and its goals), scapegoating (blaming a particular group of people for any misfortunes), and terror (using violence, or the threat of violence, against dissenters).

Some essential differences between democracies and dictatorships

Democracies Dictatorships

Types of citizen participation

Full participation in the process of selecting leaders and in monitoring their activities

Citizens may only support the ruling political authority; they do not participate.

Representation Usually several parties represent different views and alternatives to the citizenry. Ideological differences are allowed.

Only the ruling party is permitted to exist and to run in elections. Ideological differences are suppressed.

Human rights and freedoms

People are to have full civil rights and freedoms guaranteed by law.

Rights and freedoms of citizens are very limited and are subservient to the rights of the state.

Some essential differences between democracies and dictatorships

(Continued)

Democracies DictatorshipsLaw making With the consent of the

majority and respect for the rights of the minority.

Laws and government decisions are made by an elite with the needs of the state as the overriding concern.

Power and stability Leaders are elected in fair, competitive elections, and remain in power only as long as they maintain the support of the citizenry.

Leaders may seize power through a coup, a revolution or via a democratic process. They maintain power through a powerful state apparatus that controls political dissent.

Media Freedom of the press is guaranteed. Open debate of issues is encouraged.

Press is usually controlled by the political regime and must support the cause. Dissent is not allowed.