K to 12 BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC TRACK

Grade: 12
Subject Title: Political Ideologies
Semester: 1st Semester
Number of Hours/Semester: 80
Prerequisite: (If needed)
 Political Ideologies
Content
1.1 Meaning of Ideology
1.2 Spectrum of Political Attitudes
1.3 Kinds/Basic Tenets
1.4 Components of Ideology
1.5 Functions of Ideology

Learning Competency
The learners …
O Articulate definitions of politics
O Differentiate the various views on politics
O Explore the connection between the phenomenon (politics) and the
method of inquiry (Political Science)
O Recognize the value of politics
O Differentiate governance from government
 The Varying Views of Politics
Origin and Contemporary definitions

O French writer/scholar, Antoine Louis Claude

Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836) coined the
term/word Ideology- as systematic study, process
of forming ideas, science of ideas.

O Francis Bacon’s statement of “Knowledge is

Power”, the purpose of knowledge is not only the
liberation of human mind from ignorance and
superstition, but also to “Improve the life of man
on earth”. It is predicated or anchored on some
theoretical and philosophical assumption.
 Marx and Engels

– it is a fabrication used by a particular

group to justify themselves. Completely
subjective will always reflect the interest
of the ruling class. Incorrect interpretation
of the nature of politics.
 Mannheim

– contributed in the historical perspective.

No ideology can be understood unless we
grasp the ideas of the previous era and
investigate the impact of the previous to the
current one.
 Frederick Watkins
– in his book, Age of Ideology, suggests that it
comes from the political extremes. It always
opposes the existing social, economic, and
political order or the status quo. Mostly stated in
simple terms of utopian in objectives. Great faith
in human kind potential in finding happiness and
success.
 David Ingersoll
– ideology include assessment of the status quo
and a view of the future that the future always
represents something better that the present and
the past. Tends to convey sense of urgency and
stimulate people to achieve utopian objectives.
 L.T Sargent
– sees ideology based on the value of
systems of societies, provides the believer with a
picture of the world as it is – and as it should be.
In so doing organizes the complexity of the
world into something fair, simple and
understandable.
 Terrence Ball
– rather than phenomenon composed of
precise ingredients, he viewed ideology in more
flexible and academic terms. He suggests, “an
agenda of things to discuss, question to ask,
hypothesis to make. We should be able to use it
when considering the interaction between ideas and
politics. It exists whenever politics is motivated by
intellectual rather than random impulses. Hence, it
should not be continued narrowly or understood to
be dependent on any but the loosest criteria.
 Ideology
No exact definition but all political scientist agreed on common
opinions, hence, these (5) five time part definitions for our purposes:

O First and foremost, it is a political term, though it can be applied to other

context.
O Set of ideas, belief and values which social group espouses for political
beliefs. Provides interpretation of the present and a view of the discussed
future.
O System of ideas with a mission. Action oriented the anticipated future is
invariably portrayed as materially better than the present and is taught to
be attained within in a lifetime. Includes a list of specific steps that can be
takes to accomplish its goals.
O Oriented toward the masses.
O Simple stated and presented in motivational terms.
It is predicated or anchored on some theoretical and philosophical
assumptions
 Review
O Ideologies accompany humankinds’ increased effort
to explain critical and social phenomenon rationally.
O It is a result of efforts to make political
accommodations to the conditions created by the
individual revolution.
O Western originally used in an objective way to
explain the origin of ideas. Later, however,
ideologies come to be understood as subjective to
political rationalizations.
O Today, ideologies are understood to be political
statements that call upon the masses to act in some
warp in order to improve political life.
 Understanding the Spectrum of
Political Attitude

STATUS
QUO

Radical Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary

Left Right
 These terms radical, liberal, moderate,
conservative and reactionary are among the
words most often heard and used in political
discourse. Used in political debate, employs or
conveys speaker or writer’s bias. In our
discussion, no value judgement will be implied.
Our objective is to understand the terms not to
label them good or bad.

This alignment tells us something

important. In politics the term Radical means
extremist of the left but not of the right.
 2 Kinds of Change

O Progressive. Change from the Status

Quo to something new and different.
O Retrogressive. Refers to a return to a
policy or institution that has been used
by the society in the past
 Factors to consider in Effecting
Change

a) Direction. Progressive-Retrogressive
b) Depth. Major total overhaul
Minor adjustment in society
How they want to effect Change
and Manner
A. Radicals.
O Extremely dissatisfied/discontented with the
status quo.
O They wish immediate profound change in the
existing order advocating something new and
different.
O They are frustrated, impatient and
revolutionary
B. Liberals.
O Considerably less dissatisfied than radicals, but
still wishing to change significantly the status quo.
O Quick to recognize weakness in the system,
therefore anxious to reform.
O They are impatient with the deficiencies therefore
favour rapid and relatively far reaching progressive
change in the society.
O Believes that people can improve their lives
through the use of reason
 2 Kinds of Liberals

a. Original Classical. Believes in natural law,

private property is inalienable. Government
oppressed the people.
b. Contemporary. Believes in Private Property
is a social right. Government should be used
to improve life of the people through social
experimentations.
 Liberals support
O Human Rights
O Rationalism
O Equalitarianism
O Personal Liberty
O Internationalism
C. Moderates.
O Fairly contented with the society.
O Support gradual change.
O There’s still a room for improvement.
O Middle of the road
O Finds little evil in the status quo
O Their reluctance to change is only exceeded
by the conservatives
D. Conservatives.
O is the most contented with the existing society
or status quo
O They are the most active defender against
challenges to the status quo.
O Is pessimistic about human capacity to
improve life through reason.
O Depends on tried and true institutions
O Believes private property is inalienable right
O Desires order
Conservatives support
O Property
O Rights
O Irrationalism
O Elitism
O Authoritarianism
O Nationalism
E. Reactionary.
O Wishes things to be as they were before
O They propose that the institution of the
previous era be reinstated.
O Rejecting modern values they would see
society retraces its steps and adopt former
political system.
 Beyond these philosophical convictions,
there are several other motivations that cause
people to learn to the left and right.

O Psychological factors- about the need for

change
O Economic- circumstances plays big part
O Age and one’s view of what human nature is
probably the most important determent about
with which side of the spectrum one will
identify with.
 Radicalism
Advocacy of revolutionary changes
in economic, political, and cultural
institutions of the prevailing social
order/status quo. As a form of inquiry, it
goes to the root of social problems.
 Liberalism
The political philosophy based on
the belief in progress, the essential
goodness of human race and the
autonomy of individual and vigilance for
the protection of political and civil
liberties.
 Conservatism
Political ideology for the
preservation of the existing social
order/status quo based on private property
through reforms, traditions, customs,
religion and authority. It abhors
radicalism and revolution.
 Anarchism
Political theory which stands for a
social order without any need of
government or the state, and thus for a
society based on voluntary cooperation
and the association of individuals and
groups.
 Authoritarianism

The exercise of power without

constitutional limitations, hence it implies
on absolute control of the people by the
government or the state.
 Capitalism
An economic system based on
private property and constitutional
government. It stands for gradual reform
rather than for revolution for the progress
of society.
 Communism
The vision of Karl Marx termed as
“classless society”. It is characterized by
the public ownership of the means of
Production, a new concept of the state is
freedom from want.
Dialectical Materialism
Marxist theory that the whole
reality (man, society and nature) is in a
state of perpetual flux or change.
Evolving matter is the ultimate reality and
therefore, nothing is saved or inviolable.
Historical Materialism
The Marxist theory that historical
change is actuated by economic factors
rather than by spiritual forces like of God.
What move the society to progress are the
contradictions over the material condition
of life.
 Revisionism
The attempt to interpret the
teaching of Marx and Engels, in the
light of changing historical
conditions.
 Constitutionalism

A strict adherence to the

basic law of the land in
governance.
 Globalism
A national policy for treating
the whole world as a sphere for
political and economic influence
and cooperation.
 Humanism
A philosophy which glorifies
the dignity of man as a center of all
values, and therefore makes reason
as the sole guide to life.
 Individualism
The political belief that the
individual has primacy over the state or
society hence his basic rights to life,
liberty and property must be protected
from encroachment.
 Nationalism
A national passion or
consciousness exalting one’s nation above
all others and placing primary emphasis
on promoting its culture and interests as
opposed to those of other nations or
supernatural groups.
 Pluralism
A political philosophy which
stands for the fragmentation of the state
power and diffusion of power among
various non-political organizations of
society so that society itself maybe
dominated neither by the state or any
single class.
 Dogmatism

An arrogant assertion of a belief or

a doctrine even without sufficient
evidence hence, it is a fanaticism for an
ideology whose premises are taken as
self-evident truth.
 Elitism
Theory or belief that only
those superior qualities (like
nobility, education, military, skills,
wealth or means) should rule or
control the state machinery.
O Equalitarianism. Social philosophy
advocating the eradication of economic and
political inequalities among the people.

O Fascism. Form of governance inaugurated by

Mussolini of Italy which exalted the nation
and the state above the individual. As a
political regime, it is an autocratic
government, hence it stands for the
suppression of opposition dissert and
criticism.
O Feudalism. A social system where agriculture
is the main source of economic survival, hence
characterized by a rigid feudal relationship
between land lord and tenant, peasant or serf.
O Socialism. An economic system based on the
common ownership of the means of production
hence the social appropriation of social
production. Socialism is a preparatory stage of
communism as the classless society
O Social Class. Refers to the various strata or
groups of people in the society in relation to
the ownership of the means of production.

O Totalitarianism. It refers to an absolute and

unlimited exercise of power and complete
control of society.
 Components of Ideology

OPhilosophy
OProgram
OPropaganda
 Philosophy
O This is the set of ideas and beliefs.
O Serves as the framework for understanding
political reality, political regimes, its
institutions and for defining the role of people
in society. It is in fact, on the basis of
philosophical framework that political system
and its behaviour are evaluated and groups or
the whole community are mobilized to engage
in political action or struggle either for or
against. Thus ideology is always partisan in
character.
 Program
O Provides the guide to action.
O It spells out “what should be done” or what
course of action to take, given one’s theory
society man and truth. The action may vary
from time to time, from place to place, but
always contingent on the material and social
interest of the actors. In other words, the
program of ideology is for either social
stability or for social change.
 Propaganda
Arouses and mobilized people into
political actions. Originally it was meant to
change people’s mind about certain things so
they may be neutralized, if not connected to
the cause for which propaganda is made.
 Functions of Ideology

OLegitimation
OMobilization
OManipulation
 Legitimation
Refers to how the political
regime and its authority are
accepted by the community to how
its laws are complied with and to
how policies are carried out.
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