Political ideology is a guiding path and necessary basement borne out of the human aspirations and struggle to reach at the targets set by society. In simple terms, ideology is a well thought out system of ideas and plans to achieve political goals. Hence, political ideologies and political parties have strong affiliations.
Capitalism, socialism, liberalism, Marxism, communism, conservatism, fascism, democracy, and globalism are the major types of political ideologies prevailing in today’s global politics.
Chinese communist party,Bhartiya Janata Party, Communist party of Cuba, Democratic party of Japan, Communist party of the Russian federation, conservative party and democratic party of UK, democratic and republicans in USA, are some major political parties.
Ideologically, each and every political parties have strong affiliations with political ideologies. In this article, Political ideologies and political parties, I’m going to provide list of political ideologies and affiliations with major political parties in world.
At the beginning, let’s learn in detail the meaning of political ideologies.
Political ideology or philosophy: meaning, examples, and importance
Being the most important part of political science, political ideologies are bound to receive due importance. Right from monarchic or autocratic regimes to latest rule of people or democracy, political ideologies or beliefs offer aspired base for actions to reach at the ends.
So, let’s construct the best meaning of political ideology term.
As definition or meaning, “Political ideology is a guiding path and necessary basement borne out of the human aspirations and struggle to reach at the targets set by society”.
For layman’s understanding, political ideology is a “Well thought out system or set of ideas” about–
1.In what way,
2.For whom and why,
3.At what ends power should be controlled and used for…
For more clarity, political ideology involves explanation of current situation and present and prove on the trial basis how the proposed ideas, plans are the best bet to bring better changes in the struggling life of society.
In short, political ideology is a set or system of ideas or beliefs aimed to assure people of a particular nation about the abilities to ride them out of difficult period of time and promise to bring better future.
Role and importance of political ideologies or philosophies
1.As I told that ideology is a yardstick to find out the real state of people under rule. Simply, what people want and what they face problems, and what they aspire?
2.It involves explaining the causal factors and provides ground in terms of set of suitable ideas as an alternative solutions.
3.Secondly, Ideological understanding helps us to know about the nature of government and its policies regarding welfare of society at large.
4.Once, if you know that a particular state is under rule of liberals of conservatists, it is more easier to weigh policies and plans comparatively. It ushers whether you should go for or remain in older version.
5.But, it is too difficult to conclude that only one ideology in letter and spirit can be either sufficient or enforceable in a nation to bring desired results.
Historical overview of origin and evolution of political ideologies or philosophies
Actually, history always reminds us the undeniable truth that no ideology is everlasting, nor it could be irrelevant permanently, but subject to move in a cyclic manner.
Right from the ancient period, the pool of political ideologies are getting more and more diverse as the civilization is advancing.
Basically, the types of political ideologies are classified on the basis of relations between people under rule, government that rule and what aspire society.
The interplay among freedom that people got, government that exercise types of control, and what society believes results in the forms and types of political ideologies.
Here, I have presented the classification of Political ideologies and philosophies. Just take a look at the classification.
1.Liberalism – Centrist 2.Conservatism – Right wing
3.Socialism – Left wing 4.Fascism -Extremists
5.Communism-Much tilted to left
6.Totalitarianism– Extreme control both
7.Globalism – Global emphasis
8.Democracy – Centrist left tilt
9.Theocracy -Rightist 10.Anarchism – Absence of rule
11.Authoritarianism – Dominance Both
Understanding the causes of Origin and evolution of political ideologies and philosophies
Now, let’s see the major factors that caused the origin and evolution of major types of political ideologies in the world. And the cycle is continue since ancient times, but the degree is more in modern world.
Degree of freedom, social mobility, government control over people are the major determinants for the cyclic evolution and origin of the different types of political ideologies and political parties.
Freedom of people in forming political ideologies
Freedom is a means to channelise the hidden individual merits and abilities to reap aspirations. More the freedom, better the chances of holistic wellness of individual and vice-versa. Obviously, lesser constraints from government and society results in the rule of people.
Social hierarchy and mobility
Social structure is regulated by the normative framework of society itself. If the given society permits the vertical mobility, it is called open society in which modern values are cherished.
On the other side, if the normative framework and value system is contrary to the social mobility or movement through the natural hierarchical structure, such society proves graveyard for the freedom of individual.
Liberalism and conservatism are the best examples of the above arguments. Apart from this, government control is no less responsible to churn out different forms.
Control of government and people
It is important to know whether the given government is controlled by people under rule or the people are controlled by the government. Because, if the government control exceeds the given freedom of people, results would be authoritative or totalitarian forms.
Whereas, if the government control is comparatively lesser than the given freedom of people, the results would be people friendly government. Fascism, authoritarian rule, and liberal democratic rule are the examples of such relations and equations.
How does political ideology cultivate ground for rise of political parties?
It is a well known belief that ideology can act as a yardstick to find out the real state of people under rule. Like, what people want? and what they face problems? and what they aspire?
It does analysis of the socio-economic state of people and provides effective alternative. In short, ideology plays crucial role
1.Identification of problems people facing
2.Educating people for collective action
3.Mobilization people’s support for political action
4.Like minded people form political organization to realise goal.
5.If the given organisation strive to achieve power to solve problems, it is called political party.
6.All the political parties in the world have their roots in the respective ideologies.
7.Every country in world has different ideological base depending on the nature of society and problems.
8.There are many nations, barring Islamic monarchies, having more than one ideologies.
9.In case of multiparty system of government, the chances of multiple political ideologies are more than single and two party.
Political Ideologies and political parties affiliations in India
India adopted Parliamentary democratic with multiparty system. Largely, Indian National Congress, Bhartiya Janata Party, Communist party of India, and other regional parties are major political players.
Ever since the freedom struggle movement, Indian National Congress used to be symbol of all inclusive, liberal, secular political organization.
And, even after independence, it continues as a major political party and ruled more than five decades.
Nowadays, it’s base has been shrinking with the weakening of leadership, rise of Communal capitalist BJP and emerging different regional parties.
Bhartiya Janata Party is the ruling party in India since a decade. It emerged out of Communal ideology of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) a hindu outfit organisation. It’s aim is to make India a country for hindu people.
Likewise, BJP promised things that are objectionable in their manifesto. For example, Ram temple, uniform civil code, and abolition of cow slaughter are the major promises BJP uss in every election.
Often BJP workers target other faiths and religions on the issues of beefs, nationalism, and Pakistan.
Thirdly, Communist party of India is also an important political party though it’s base has been shrinking rapidly. It is an offspring of communist wave generated by Ideas of marx and Russian revolution.
In conclusion, it is much easier to conclude that every political party has it’s own ideological base. In simple term, political party is the political machine to achieve socio-economic goals aspired by founders of political ideologies.
List of national political parties in India
1.Bharatiya Janata Party BJP, 6 April 1980
2.Indian National Congress INC, 28 December 1885
3.Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI-M,7 November 1964
4.Aam Aadmi Party, November 2012
5.Bahujan Samaj Party BSP, 14 April 1984
6. National People’s Party NPP,6 January 2013
Short summary of classification of Political ideologies or philosophies
Political ideology or philosophy is a guiding path and necessary basement borne out of the human aspirations and struggle to reach at the targets set by society.
Next, political ideology or philosophy is a political vehicle that aims to realise aspirations of society.
Obviously, It acts as a basement to achieve collective goals through regime.
Political ideologies are classified as Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism, Fascism, Communism, Totalitarianism, Globalism, Democracy, Theocracy, Anarchism, and Authoritarianian.
The interplay among freedom that people got, government that exercise types of control, and what society believes results in the forms and types of political ideologies.
Fundamentally, Rational approach, Use of science and technology, Favour to individual rights, Religious tolerance and fraternity are the major characteristics of the left wing philosophy.
Solved Questions on Classification of political ideologies or philosophies
In order to get deeper insight of the given topic, following set of solved questions are highly essential.
Q. 1. What does political ideology or philosophy mean?
Ans: Political ideologies are classified as Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism, Fascism, Communism, Totalitarianism, Globalism, Democracy, Theocracy, Anarchism, and Authoritarianian.
In short, political ideology is a set or system of ideas or beliefs aimed to assure people of a particular nation about the abilities to ride them out of difficult period of time and promise to bring better fortune.
Q. 2.What are the responsible factors for the classification of Political ideologies?
Ans: The interplay among freedom that people got, government that exercise types of control, and what society believes results in the forms and types of political ideologies.
Difference between Socialism and capitalism
Difference between Fascism and neofascism
Indian politics after independence
Freedom of speech and expression