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Philippine Politics and

Governance
Quarter I - Module 2:
Political Ideologies

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Philippine Politics
and Governance
Quarter I – Module 2:
Political Ideologies


ii


Let Us Learn!

Upon the use and application of this module as a guide for learning, you should
be able to:

1. Differentiate the political ideologies (HUMSS_PG12-Ib-c-7).

Specifically, you should be able to:

a. differentiate ideology from political ideology;

b. identify the basic tenets of major political ideologies;
c. discuss the tenets of political ideologies; and
d. explain the political spectrum.

Let Us Try!

Activity 1. FACT OR BLUFF!

In Grade 8, Araling Panlipunan subject, you discussed about World History

(Kasaysayang Pandaigdig). I assume you have an enduring learning from your
discussion in one of the competencies, which is the challenges of political ideology
(ideolohiyang politikal) in the establishment of institutions in society.

Let us try to test your stock knowledge on political ideology. Write FACT if the
statement is correct or has a factual basis and write BLUFF if the same statement is
incorrect.

1. Marxism proclaims a belief in revolution as a way to change the political

system. ____________

2. Liberalism espoused an idea of minimum government intervention and has a

more optimistic approach to human reasoning and nature. __________
3. The presence of chaos due to the non-existence of control mechanism is an
attribute of Anarchism. _____________

4. Reactionaries and radicals are in the right side of the political spectrum.
_____________

5. Conservatives are the moderate who have no neutral opinion with regard to
political matters. _____________

Let Us Study

“When the people fears the

government we have TYRANNY.
When the government fears the
people, you have LIBERTY.”

-Thomas Jefferson

history.com

Thomas Jefferson was the third (3rd) United States president who served for
two (2) terms from 1801 to 1809. He was the primary draftsman on the Declaration
of American Independence and the Statute of Virginia on Religious Freedom.
According to him, “most bad government has grown out of too much government”.
His ideological principles and beliefs on freedom and liberty were the foundations in
setting direction on the role of government- a future vision of a good society.

In the Philippine context, the aim of the government is the maintenance of

peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the
general welfare of the people. As a guide, the government uses ideology to help
consolidate the support of their constituents and to attain these goals. It is also
through ideology that civil societies go against the oppressive government.

Ideology and Political Ideology

The word ideology derives from two Greek words, idea, which means idea,
and logos, which means science. The term, therefore, literally means “science of
ideas”. Some scholars referred to the term as a set of beliefs, attitudes, and
opinions. The word was first coined by Destrutt de Tracy, a French philosopher, and
writer.

When the set of beliefs or ideas pertain to the power exercised by the
government, how the state should be governed or the beliefs on the foundation of
running the state, then those set of beliefs are referred to as political ideology.

Example: The belief of Rene Descarte that “a state is better governed which
has but few laws, and those laws strictly observed” would mean a belief on minimum
state intervention in governing the country/state is an illustration of a liberalist
political ideology.

A political ideology is basically defined as political statements that aim to

call upon the massive mass or government action to achieve a relatively better
political and economic condition (Badarat 1997).

Political ideology is a certain set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines,

or symbols of a social movement, institution, class, or large group that explains
how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a
certain social order. It is goal-oriented, meaning it is for or against the certain
configuration of a political community. It largely concerns itself with how to allocate
power, and to what ends it should be used. Their applications, however, are
dependent upon the different political attitudes of people and institutions.

Ideology is more or less a coherent set of ideas that provides the basis for
organized political action, whether this intends to preserve, modify, or overthrow the
existing system of power. All ideologies, therefore, have the following features:

a. They offer an account of the existing order, usually in the form of a ‘world
view’;
b. They advance a model of the desired future, a vision of a good society;
and
c. They explain how political change can and should be brought about from A
to B (Heywood 2007).

In this topic, we are more interested in political ideology, which means that we
must distinguish it from (on the one hand) what might be considered ideology more
generally and (on the other) from non-ideological political beliefs.

Activity 2. Mix and Match!

A mix of phrases and terms are provided below and are lettered
correspondingly. Make a column and labeled the top portion of each side with the
word ideology and political ideology. Your task is to pick-up the letter/s which you
think belong/s to an ideology and the letter/s which belong/s to political ideology.

a. a model of the desired future, a vision of the ‘good state’

b. an idea that forms a basis of how they view the world around them and the
proper role of government in the world

c. a systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture

d. a more or less coherent set of ideas that provides the basis for organized
action, whether this intends to preserve, modify or overthrow the existing
system of power

e. a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual and group

f. is a set of related beliefs about political theory and policy held by an

individual, group of individuals or a particular social class

g. the integrated assertions, theories, and aims that constitute a socio-political

program

I. Basic Tenets of Major Political Ideologies

Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on liberty, consent of the

government, and equality before the law. It favors change, prefers more freedom,
and has a more optimistic approach to human reasoning and nature (Sargent 2009).
Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these
principles. Still, they generally support free markets, free trade, limited government,
individual rights, capitalism, democracy, gender equality, and racial equality.
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy promoting traditional social
institutions in the context of culture and civilization. The central tenets of
conservatism include tradition, organic society, hierarchy, authority, and property
rights.
Abraham Lincoln once asked and retorted: “What is conservatism? It is not
adherence to the old and tried, but against new and untried”. In can be said that
conservatism is the opposite of liberalism as it is characterized by a resistance to
change, adherent to limited human freedom as it chooses to maintain traditional
values, and at some extreme versions, distrust to human reasoning and nature or
anti-egalitarianism (Sargeant 2009). Edmund Burke, an 18th-century politician who
opposed the French Revolution, is credited as one of the foremost theorists of
conservatism in Great Britain in the 1790s.
Conservatives argue and believe that human beings are imperfect and not
perfectible. Thus, they need security and stability in their lives which only the
government can provide; that human beings cannot exist outside of society or social
groups that nurture him/her such as family, friends, colleagues, local community and
the nation; that society is hierarchical and that authority ( who is on the top or is in-
charge ) develops naturally; and, the firm belief on the importance of owning a

property and encourage private savings and investment in property. Property

ownership is seen to be a way of creating a stable world. The people are less likely
to cause damage to someone else property if they also own property.
Communism is a social, political, economic ideology and movement whose
ultimate goal is the establishment of a communist society, namely a socioeconomic
order structured upon the ideas of common ownership of the means of production
and the absence of social classes. According to Karl Marx in his 1897 Critique of the
Gotha Program “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need”.
That in this system, there are two social classes; that conflict between these
two social classes is the root of all problems in society, and this situation will
ultimately be resolved through social revolution. Almost all theories and ideologies
related to Marxism consider proclaiming revolution as the way to change the system.
By revolution, Marx did not mean peaceful walkouts but a violent one in which the
proletariat will topple down the elite class and all systems they have made.
The two classes are the proletariat (the working class) who make up the
majority of the population within society, and who must work to survive; and the
bourgeoisie (the capitalist class) – a small minority who derives profits from
employing the working class through private ownership of the means of production.
According to this analysis, the revolution would put the working class in power and,
in turn, established social ownership of the means of production, which is the primary
element in the transformation of society towards communism.
Anarchism. While most people are familiar with how anarchy is popularly
used to mean chaos due to the non-existence of control mechanisms, the idea
behind it is actually more on peaceful co-existence and equality. Contrary to the
popular depiction of anarchism in movies, anarchists believe that since power
corrupts, a better system based on voluntary cooperation and not on power relations
should be established and that this system will address the needs of the people
more successfully (Sargeant, 2009). It is living a peaceful life without
coercion from anyone. As Alexander Berkman put it: “Anarchism teaches that we
can live in a society where there is no compulsion of any kind. A life without
compulsion naturally means liberty; it means freedom from being forced or coerced,
a chance to lead the life that suits you best” (Berkman, 1964).
Totalitarianism is a term that denotes a political system or a form of
government that prohibits opposition parties, restricts individual opposition to the
state and its claims, and exercises an extremely high degree of control over public
and private life. It is regarded as the most extreme and complete form of
authoritarianism. Historian Robert Conquest describes a totalitarian state as one
which recognizes no limit on its authority in any sphere of public or private life, and it
extends that authority to whatever length feasible.

Libertarianism is the group of political philosophies that advocate minimizing

coercion and emphasize freedom, liberty, and voluntary association. Libertarians
generally advocate a society with significantly less government compared to most
present-day societies. Libertarianism is another version of anarchism but involves

the government in a minimal role, such as ensuring the safety of everyone and
fairness in whatever contracts or dealings (Sargeant 2009).

Socialism is any various economic and political theories advocating collective

or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and
distribution of goods. The core themes of socialism are community, cooperation,
equality, class politics, and common ownership.

Socialists believed that:

a. As to community – human beings are tied to one another by the bonds of

common humanity. “We are all brothers and sisters”. They viewed the
plasticity of human nature – humans can change and be molded by life
experience. Moreover, humans are not predestined but have the capacity
to become something greater than what they are;
b. As to cooperation- the natural relationship among humans is one of
cooperation rather than competition;
c. As to equality – they are committed to equality.
d. As to class politics – they emphasize social class as the determining factor
of society; and
e. As to common ownership – they disagree with the idea of private property
as this will cause competition and a source for the creation of social
inequality.

Brief comparison of liberalism, conservatism, and socialism

View Liberalism Conservatism Socialism

Human Nature Inherently good Inherently imperfect Inherently good
and selfish
Of individual Free to pursue The individual is to Supports the
individual goals obey the power common good
structure
Of society Made up of Hierarchical Society is more
individuals divisions are natural important than the
individual
Private Used for personal Necessary for The cause of
property benefit stability inequality

II. The Political Spectrum

You may have heard at various times terms used like ‘political left’ and
political ‘right’. This is quite a confusing and misleading area in understanding in
political science. These terms are used to position different dimensions of political

ideology. The origin of the terms can be traced back to the French Revolution and
the seating arrangements adopted by the different groups in the parliament.

A political spectrum is a system to characterize and classify

different political positions in relation to one another. These positions sit upon one
or more geometric axes that represent independent political dimensions. Stated
differently, the ideological spectrum is a way of comparing or visualizing different
political position ideas and beliefs by placing them upon one or more geometric axes
(linear spectrum).

Frederick Watskin (1969) suggested that ideologies come from different

political extremes such as the conservatives or the pro-status quo on one side, and
the radicals of the anti-status quo on the extreme side.

Modern-day political scientists have expanded the spectrum to include

different levels of political attitudes and the different ways in which each level wants
to preserve or change the status quo. At the extreme right of the spectrum, changing
the status quo is not a primary concern. If ever change happens, a retrogressive
change is taken into consideration or the return of the old status quo. At this level are
the reactionaries and the conservatives. Sandwiched in the middle are the
moderates who have no neutral opinion with regard to political matters.

On the left side of the spectrum are the liberals and the radicals which are by
nature anti-status quo. Though the radicals push for more extreme changes in the
political system, both the radicals and the liberals aim for progressive change in the
state.

quizlet.com

Fig.1 Illustration of a linear political spectrum.

Let Us Practice

Activity 3. Political Thinking! : Identifying Political Ideology

Your task is to identify how many

political ideologies
contained in the lyrics (modified) of
the song “uncle son”. After
identifying, make a list of your
findings.

Radicals dream of equal rights,
Reactionaries live in a world gone by,
Socialist preach of a promise land…….
Unionist tell you when to strike,
Generals tell you when to fight,
Preachers teach you wrong from right,
They’ll feed you when you’re born
And use you all your life.
-The Kinks “uncle son”

Activity 4. Thinking Point!

List down at least eight (8)

salient features on the definition
of political ideology.

Let Us Practice More

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Activity 5. Take your Stand!

Read each of the quotes below. For each quote, decide if the speaker is likely
a liberal, conservative, libertarian, or totalitarian. When you have made your decision
put the letter of the quote where you feel it belongs on the linear spectrum. Below
your spectrum. make an explanation of why you characterized the selected quote as
a particular kind of political ideology.

VOTER A : “ I worked my way up from poverty to become the successful business

owner I am today. I get frustrated when I think that my tax money goes to support
people who won’t help themselves. I think part of the blame belongs with the
media – they promote all the wrong values.”

VOTER B : “These days you can’t be too careful. I think we need to spend a lot of money,
\
not on education, but on national defense for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I wish
there will be police officer on every corner. The police could search my car all they want
since I don’t break the law. I also think the government should crack down on the media-
there reporting gives our enemies an inside look at all our police and military
preparations.”
VOTER C: “I really don’t care what other people do in their free time, for as long as they
don’t bother me. I’m pretty sure I don’t like it when the government tells me what to do
with my money or in my own home – I certainly not going to turn around and do the same
thing to my neighbors.”

VOTER D: “I really worry about the state of the world today. It seems like more and more
kids are growing up in poverty and there’s no one there to help them. I think we need to
do more towards providing health care and education programs for our young people.

Activity 6. Let Talk About It!

Think about the issues on COVID-19, SOGIE Bill, or the ANTI-TERROR

LAW. Write a dialogue about the issue you selected between four characters: a
liberal, a conservative, a socialist, and a totalitarian. Your dialogue should
demonstrate areas of difference and areas of similarity between the ideologies. You
will be graded base on the following rubric: Articulation of the principles 50 %;
Degree in the appraisal of contrast or difference and content of the issue 30%; and,
sentence structure 20%.

Let Us Remember

Activity 7. Fill-in the Hole!

The questions in this activity are framed to serve as a generalization and

summary of the lesson. You will be asked to complete the statement or to make an
analogy. Some items call for an answer in the areas of differences and similarities.

1. Characteristically, conservatives are _________________.

a. Oppose to rationalism
b. Supportive of tried and trusted in preference to the experimental
c. Believers in ‘organic society’ society
d. All of the above

2. Liberalism ideology ______________________.

a. was invented in the 18th century to serve the interest of the British Liberal
b. developed as a hostile response to the emergence of industrial capitalism
c. is a compromise between socialism and conservatism
d. is a long established creed which focuses on individual freedom

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3. Anarchism is another political ideology that ________________.

a. advocates chaos due to the non-existence of control mechanism
b. believes in peaceful co-existence through voluntary cooperation
c. believes in the imperfection of human nature
d. argues the necessity of property ownership for stability

4. Socialism and liberalism have which of the following commonality?

a. They have nothing in common
b. Agreement on the appropriate size of government
c. Agreement on the appropriate amount of public service
d. Equality before the law

5. What societal problem did Karl Marx attempt to address in his manifesto?
a. The exploitation of the poor by the rich
b. The fact that poor people were not allowed to vote
c. The low quality of goods produced in large factories
d. Unfair laws that allow people to be sent to prison

Complete the analogy:

6. _______________: Radicals as to _____________: Reactionaries

7. Conservatives: Radicals as to _______________: ______________

8. Ideological view on property ownership

Liberalism: Personal benefit as to Socialism: ________________

9. Political spectrum

Extreme Right : Totalitarian as to Extreme Left : ____________

10. Communism : Liberalism as to Totalitarianism : __________

Let Us Assess

Activity 8. Present your evidence!

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This portion serves as an assessment to evaluate your learning as we

conclude this lesson on political ideology. Answer the following questions and select
the best answer from the choices given.

1. What is the best explanation of political ideology?

a. A system of belief
b. A political theory
c. An ethical system
d. A set of related beliefs about political theory and policy
e. None of the choices are correct

2. To effectuate the goal of the government to mobilize its citizens, it uses

ideologies to fuse and strengthen its constituents. What are the underlying
characteristics of a political ideology?

I. It aims for a change in the structure or framework of a political community

II. It is purposeful
III. It is an idea or statement of a person
IV. It may go against a certain system in the government
V. It calls for a collective support

a. I, II, III and V

b. I, II, IV and V
c. I, II, III and IV
d. II, III, IV and V

3. You are firm that it is important to study politics and governance to analyze
various issues in politics. What will you consider in analyzing issues in politics
and governance?

I. The political ideologies

II. Theories involve in politics and governance
III. the political attitude of the people
IV. Frameworks of the government

a. II, III and IV

b. I, II, III and IV
c. I, II, and IV
d. I, II and III

4. What closest political ideology is being expressed by this provision stated in

Article XII, section 18 of the 1987 Phil. Constitution, to wit:

“The state may, in the interest of national welfare or defense, establish

and operate vital industries and, upon payment of just compensation, transfer

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to public ownership utilities and other private enterprises to be operated

by the government.”

a. capitalism
b. socialism
c. communism
d. liberalism

5. When the government has exerted effort to alter the contractual relations
between landlord and farm tenant and the increased effort to redistribute
private lands through expropriation and resale to farm tenants, this effort is a
manifestation of what kind of political ideology?

a. socialism
b. conservatism
c. social justice
d. communism

6. A student asked his teacher during a politics class, stating: “Would a political
statement become a political ideology?”
If you are the teacher, what would be your answer to your student?
a. No, it would remain a statement.
b. Yes, since the statement is political.
c. Yes, if it calls for a class or organizational support and government action
d. It depends on whether or not it is goal- oriented.

7. What do you call a system of beliefs, perspectives, and frameworks that call
for an action to make a better political and economic condition?

a. political statement
b. political belief
c. political campaign
d. political ideology

8. Government is powerful; when unlimited, it becomes tyrannical. The Bill of

Rights is a guarantee that there are certain areas of the person’s life, liberty,
and property that the government power may not touch.

Along with this statement, what ideology is being exemplified?

a. Marxism
b. socialism
c. conservatism
d. liberalism

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9. “What political ideology do you like?”, Ana was asked by her teacher in
politics class. Ana replied that she likes to live in a place where there is no
authority, dominion, and exploitation, where social equals freely associate and
freely cooperate with one another absent the police, military, prisons, courts,
and the political class of the state.
What political ideology is Ana referring to?
a. anarchism
b. communism
c. liberalism
d. libertarianism

10. Group 1 of class Jacinto is tasked to report about the ideology of

Conservatism. What would be the report is all about?

I. the political attitude being a reactionaries and radicals

II. their resiliency with respect to change
III. Distrust to human reasoning
IV. Maintain traditional values

a. I, III, IV
b. III and IV
c. II, III, and IV
d. I, II, and IV

11. In the Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels expressed the
idea that ______________

a. Religion should be the most important factor

b. Profits from work should belong to the workers
c. Power should be determined by the person’s wealth
d. Supply and demand should control prices

12. According to Marx, workers would take control of government through

___________.

a. Non-violent protest
b. Violent revolution
c. Democratic reforms
d. Trickery

13. Which political ideology argues that human beings are imperfect and not
perfectible; thus, they will need stability and security in their lives, which the
government can provide?

a. Conservatism
b. Liberalism
c. Socialism
d. Libertarianism
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14. In politics, political ideologies are __________.

a. Short-term beliefs about politics that have little influence how we view
government.
b. Conceptual tools we use to think about the government is doing what it
ought to be doing.
c. Attitude that always support a strong and centralized government.
d. Attitude that always support a limited role of government.

15. Liberalism believes in government intervention in _________.

a. Personal matters, but not in economic affairs.

b. Economic affairs, but not in personal matters
c. Personal matter and economic affairs
d. Neither personal matters nor economic affairs

Let Us Enhance

Activity 9. Wishful Thinking!

I. Answer the following:

1. What political ideology in our society do you like most?

2. In not less than five sentences, describe that ideology.
3. Why do you adhere to this ideology?
4. What political ideology in our society do you dislike?
5. Why do you not like this certain ideology? What aspect of this ideology do you
dislike?

II. Write an essay in not less than one hundred fifty (150) words on
this question. You will be graded based on the following rubric:

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Pointed-out view on the topic- 40%; Organization and coherence of

idea- 40%; and Sentence structure- 20%.

1. What is political ideology reflective of Philippine democracy?

Let Us Reflect

Political ideologies perform a critical function in the country's political life. It

can make and unmake regimes and governments. Take for example, the EDSA
revolution, which restored the Philippines’ democratic process and toppled the
totalitarian-dictatorship regime of Marcos. The creation of the Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was an offshoot of conservative
beliefs granting them the right of self-determination – to govern in accordance with
the rules of their values and traditions. Moreover, the five decades struggle of the
Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army, established on December
26, 1968, and chaired by Amado Guerero ( pseudonym of Jose Ma. Sison), was
anchored on the political thoughts of Marx-Lenin and Mao Zedung theories and
ideologies.

There are other ideologies, depending on the issue or aspect of human life
one is studying. There are also new ideologies that may crop up. Remember that
because of the multitude and complexity of some issues on politics and governance,
we cannot be all too liberal or all too conservative.

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Activity 8 Activity 7
1. D 1. D
2. B 2. D
3. C 3. B
4. B 4. D
5. C/D 5. A
6. C 6. Liberali
7. D sm/
8. D Conserv
9. A atism
10.C 7. Reactio
11.B naries/
12. B Liberals
13. A 8. Case of
14. B Social
15. B Inequali
ty
ctivity 5 Activity 2 9. Anarchi
sm
oter A: Ideology: 10.Conserv
onservatism C atism
E
oter B: Activity 3
talitarianis Political Activity 1
Liberalism Ideology:
1. FACT
Conservatism A
2. FACT
oter C: Socialism B
3. BLUFF
beralism Communism D
F 4. BLUFF
Fascism
oter D: G 5. BLUFF
Religious-Fundamentalism
ocialism Totalitarianism
Answer key to Activities


References

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