Classical
Ideologies>
Conservatism
Their
Variants>
The Role of
the State
The
New Right
Strong state authority is
an important instrument
for enforcing ‘The rule of
law’.
(1970s-)
Wants to ‘roll back the
state’ in terms of
providing welfare
policies, while
maintaining strong
state authority on
issues of law and order.
Society
Organic view: the
individual cannot be
separated from society.
The family is the most
basic unit in society.
‘There is no such thing
as society.’ There are
only individuals and
families. (Margaret
Thatcher, 1987)
Democracy
Accepts liberal
democracy, but is eager
to harness it against the
tyranny of the
uninformed masses.
Accepts liberal
democracy, but also
links the problem of too
much government to
electoral democracy.
There are natural
hierarchies in society,
each performing a role.
Wealth and privileges
come with a social
obligation to temper
inequality.
Planned capitalism.
Combining state
regulation with private
ownership.
Inequality is natural. It
is an individual
responsibility to strive
and prosper.
Is rooted in history and
tradition. Binds together
society in a common
cultural and civic
identity. ‘Those who are
living, those who are
dead, those who are yet
to be born.’
Is rooted in history and
tradition. Binds
together society in
providing common
cultural and civic
identity.
Equality
Economy
The Nation
Combines a laissez-faire
economic policy with a
conservative social
philosophy. Supports
privatisation:
transferring industries
from public to private
ownership.
Liberalism
NeoLiberalism
(1970s-)
Is against the
ballooning of the
welfare state. Aims to
arrest what they call
‘the dead hand of big
government’
threatening
individual rights.
Society is made up of
individuals. Society
arises from contracts
between selfinterested
individuals.
Supports liberal
democracy as
indirect and
representative
electoral
competition.
Inequality is natural
and desirable. It
encourages
competition and
spurs individuals on
towards greater
prosperity.
Globalised form of
market
fundamentalism.
Revived laissez-faire
philosophy.
The market is selfregulating and
superior to political
control.
The nation can be
viewed as a company
or a ‘brand’,
competing against
other nation-sized
actors.
Socialism
Social Liberalism/
‘Third Way’
The state should
interfere as little as
possible whilst
safeguarding and
protecting
individual rights.
(1990s-)
The state is a ‘Market
State’, which should
deliver welfare policies
and combat poverty and
disease in cooperation
with the private sector.
Social
Democracy
The state is a ‘Welfare
State’. It is an
embodiment of the
common good.
Therefore, state
interventionism is
always in the common
interest.
Encourages a
consensus view of
society instead of a
conflict view between
self-interested
individuals.
Used to support more
popular participation
but is now committed
to liberal democracy.
Reform not revolution.
The state is both an
instrument of class rule
and an instrument of
reducing class tensions.
Society is made up
of individuals.
Society arises from
contracts between
self-interested
individuals.
Supports liberal
democracy as
indirect and
representative
electoral
competition.
Inequality is
natural. It is an
individual
responsibility to
strive and prosper.
Encourages a consensus
view of society instead of
a conflict view between
self-interested
individuals.
There should be ‘equality
of opportunity’. The
State can help create a
level playing field (e.g. by
investing in education).
There should be
relative social equality.
Inequalities arising
from capitalism can be
tempered by a measure
of redistribution.
The ideal of equality – not
just equality of
opportunity, but of
outcome – is a core
political value.
Laissez-faire
capitalism.
The market is selfregulating and
does not need to be
controlled.
Supports a globalised
market economy
regulated by the state.
Growth is primarily
generated by the private
sector but this can be
encouraged by
government sponsoring.
The market is a good
servant but a bad
master. Cutting taxes or
increasing public
spending can revive a
slumped economy
(Keynesianism).
Alternative to capitalism is
collectivisation and
planning.
Views nation in
civic terms where
political allegiance
and citizenship are
the building blocks.
The nation-state is too
big for small problems
and too small for big
problems.
Favours both devolution
and the EU.
The nation is a sensible
unit of political rule.
An artificial construct,
which disguises divisions
and social injustice.
Political and social
movements should be
international rather than
national.
Based in part on Heywood, A. (2007) Political Ideologies – an Introduction. 4th ed. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan.
Supports liberal
democracy as indirect
and representative
electoral competition.
Society is characterised by
class struggle, brought
about by unequal
distribution of power and
wealth.
Dismisses liberal
democracy as capitalist
democracy since there is
not enough popular
participation.