Introduction to Political Ideologies

This course will be an overview of political ideologies. It will explain what ideologies are conceptually, explain and define specific, major ideologies, and address the relationship between ideologies in theory and as the labels are applied in practice. Ideologies can be considered at times as description and at other times as prescription. The label and concept meta-narrative will sometimes be used to refer to ideologies and other broad ideas about how to organize political communities and behavior.

There will be an initial defining of the concept of ideology and setting up general categories of issues they address in order to understand given ones.  Then individual ideologies will be reviewed and explained. The major ideologies to be addressed are: Democracy, Liberalism, Capitalism, Social Democracy, Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Totalitarian, Authoritarian, Monarchy, Libertarian, and Anarchism. The review will include looking at key similarities and differences, with emphasis on governing structures and economic systems.

Prerequisites: Very basic understanding of governments, economics, political principles. Emphasis on lecture and discussion. Suggested readings, none required.  No assignments, but instructor willing to evaluate any written work students want to submit.