MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

POS210  1994 Fall - 9999

Political Ideologies

1.

Describe the classical view of human nature. (I)

2.

Explain the distinction between "natural" and "conventional", including how this distinction influences contemporary ideologies. (I)

3.

Describe the classical views regarding community and political authority. (II)

4.

Define political ideology. (II)

5.

Identify the similarities between classical and modern political philosophies and the corresponding political ideologies. (II)

6.

Construct a framework which makes it possible to distinguish/differentiate the major contemporary political ideologies. (II)

7.

Explain how differing views of the degree of natural human equality justify different conceptions of the "ideal" political order. (II)

8.

Explain why some political ideologies stress the centrality of strong political authority in the ideal political order, while others stress the importance of individual freedom. (II)

9.

Describe traditional conservatism, and explain the relationship between this ideology and European feudalism. (III)

10.

Explain the relationship between religious and political authority under feudalism. (II)

11.

Explain the role of classical liberalism philosophers in seeking secular principles to legitimize political authority after the religious wars of the Reformation. (III)

12.

Define classical liberalism. (III)

13.

Describe the importance of equality, rational self interest, and individual freedom to the ideology of modern democracy and to its evolution. (III)

14.

Explain the relationship between classical liberalism and the historic evolution of capitalism. (IV)

15.

Explain Marx's critique of classical liberalism and capitalism. (IV)

16.

Describe the importance of faith in radical natural equality for the belief in the inevitability of progress to Marxism. (IV)

17.

Describe the divisions which grew in the European Marxist movement as the revolution Marx predicted failed to materialize. (IV)

18.

Explain how both Leninism and social democracy represent twentieth century outgrowth of the ideological division within Marxism. (IV)

19.

Define welfare state liberalism and modern conservatism, and identify the common roots of each ideology in classical liberalism. (IV)

20.

Distinguish welfare state liberalism and modern conservatism in terms of their response to capitalism and democracy. (IV)

21.

Define fascism, and explain the links of this ideology to both traditional conservatism and chauvinistic nationalism. (IV)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

POS210  1994 Fall - 9999

Political Ideologies

I. Form political philosophy to political ideology

A. Principal concerns of political philosophy

B. Definition of political ideology

II. Ideological spectrum

A. Historical/contemporary disputes about human nature

1. By nature, are people essentially equal or meaningfully diverse and unequal?

2. By nature, are people essentially solitary or sociable?

B. Which is more essential to the "perfect" political order: legitimate political authority or individual freedom?

III. The first political ideologies

A. Traditional conservatism

1. The link between Christianity and political authority

2. Natural inequality and noblesse oblige

B. Classical liberalism

1. Modern philosophy born in the attempt to legitimize political authority without recourse to religion

2. Natural equality and rational self interest: a justification for democracy

IV. Contemporary political ideologies

A. Ideologies of the left

1. Marxism, Leninism, and contemporary ideologies of race and gender

2. Democratic socialism

3. Welfare state liberalism

B. Ideologies of the right

1. Modern conservatism

2. Libertarianism

3. Fascism

C. Ideological variants

1. Feminism

2. Third World ideology

3. Anti Americanism