A Comparative Analysis of Political Culture and Ideologies

Political Ideology and Political Culture

Political ideologies and cultures are some of the most important aspects of our nation. They shape the way our nation thinks and, accordingly, acts. Political Ideology is dynamic and political culture is static. This will seem quite apparent when the definitions and related examples are explained in postdating paragraphs. The ideologies of a Liberal or Conservative mindset will be clarified, as well as defined, below.

Political ideology is a certain set of ideals or principles dealing with a nation, or even a group, that explains how society should work. A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power and to what ends it should be used. It is often seen as the background of a political party and their policy. Political culture, in simple terms, is what most citizens expect from their government. Most of these are basic rights, such as those outlined in the Constitution. Political culture is usually determined by the government, which is why it is considered static; however, political ideology is dynamic because it is usually determined by the people and even a certain period in time, not by the government.

Some political ideologies are homosexuality, racism and anarchism. Homosexuality is an example because, ideally and religiously, intimacy is meant for members of opposing sexes. It is the choice of the person, not the government, whether they feel they are more attracted to the opposite sex or not. Racism is a political ideology because it defines the character and abilities of others and correlates them with their color or their background. It is a choice to be racist. Racism is a controversial issue that only the people who believe in it can remedy, although it is highly unlikely to ever be eliminated. Anarchism—without rule—is an ideology that refers to any political position or belief that is opposed to all forms of rule. Anarchists don’t believe in a centralized government and believe that no one should rule, but rather that all people establish voluntary relationships with one another. Total chaos, as most people think, is not always a direct association with anarchism. You could consider anarchism a completely pure democratic state, where everyone has equal power, hence, it’s an ideology. Some basic political cultures are liberty, equality and authority. Liberty is the condition of being free from restriction. It also relates with free will—the right to act or believe in a manner of your choosing. Equality would be defined, obviously, as the state of being equal. Whether it is racially, religiously, or economically, equality is a goal that the government has striven for since it was adopted. Authority is defined as the right to use power. However, power seems to corrupt the equality of our nation. Yet, so many people and even nations are still power hungry.

Liberalism and Conservatism are also political ideologies. People who are liberal are in favor of a more active federal government. These people believe that the poor should be helped by the government and that things such as minority rights are preserved and protected. A basic definition of a liberal person is an openness to progress and change. Most liberals are also generous, tolerant, open-minded and willing to give rather than receive. What distinguishes liberals from those of the conservative side is that liberals apply a greater degree of government support, defense and promotion of the free market. Those who are conservative seek to limit governmental activity and change. They are usually the ones who don’t like helping others at their own expenses. Conservatives have a strong orientation to value and they believe all others should think the same. They tend to reject other political ideologies. Conservatives don't see anarchism, for instance, as different; they see it as wrong.

In conclusion, Political Ideology is dynamic and political culture is static. Political ideologies and political cultures are related in certain aspects. Political cultures are the basic rights people try and protect, whereas political ideologies are just more in depth and specific. These are very important aspects of a nation. The examples listed of each are pertinent with the subject at hand. They are basic, yet ideal in explaining political ideologies and cultures. Liberalism and Conservatism play a role in how our nation and government develop. With a majority of liberals in the government, our nation may make many changes, but with a majority of conservatives in the government, our nation may remain very static.