Slide Deck 1B: Political Ideologies and the Political Spectrum

1. Slide Deck 1B: Political Ideologies and the Political Spectrum

2. What is a political ideology? A political ideology is a set of shared ideas or beliefs about the role of government and how society should work.

3. Which do you think is better and why? • Lower taxes, smaller government and less government services • Higher taxes, larger government and more government services

4. Which statement do you believe more strongly and why? • Society is not bound by tradition • Traditions provide security and stability and must be respected

5. Common Political Ideologies • Liberalism– Favours individual freedom but acknowledges the need for some form of government intervention in the economy. • Conservatism– Advocates for the preservation of society and tradition and opposes radical changes. • Socialism– Favours a political and economic system in which the ways of production, distribution and exchange are owned by the community collectively. • Libertarianism– Advocates for minimal government intervention in the lives of citizens.

6. Other Ideologies • Communism– Promotes the establishment of an egalitarian and classless society based on common ownership and control of the means of production and property. • Fascism– Favours strict social and economical measures as a method of empowering the government and limiting the freedom of citizens.

7. What is the political spectrum? • The political spectrum provides a way to characterize and distinguish between different beliefs, ideologies, political parties and policy ideas. • A linear spectrum is represented as a horizontal line, with the leftfavouring social equality, government involvement and more social services, and the right favouring tradition, smaller government and lower taxes.

8. Political Spectrum Questions • Do the benefits of oil pipelines outweigh the environmental concerns? • Should the government spend more on our armed forces? • Should wealthier people pay a larger proportion in taxes? • Is income inequality a major concern?

9. Consolidation • What people, events or experiences in your life do you think have most shaped your political perspective? • Why is it healthy to question each other’s viewpoints? • Why is it important to consider and respect the opinions of others?