1

SELF-LEARNING HOME TASK (SLHT)

Subject: Philippine Politics and Governance Grade: 12    Quarter: 1  Week:  2-3

MELC: Differentiate the political ideologies Competency Code:  HUMSS_PG12- Ib-c-7

Name:   _______________________ Section: ________   Date:  ________

School: 

I- Readings/Discussions
This lesson delves into the study of political ideologies which involves the
nature, role, and significance of political ideas in understanding the various
political phenomenon. In every dealing of humanity, people express their opinions
and/ or speak their mind with the use of political ideas and concepts such as
freedom, fairness, justice, equality and rights that they are able to interpret their
individual views as liberal, conservative, socialist, communist, fascist, feminist,
etc.
Political ideologies serve as framework through which governments are
established and laws and policies of a country are created. Political leaders tend to
decide on pressing issues based on their individual and political party’s ideology.
Hence, understanding the direction and values of each political ideology relative to
their placement in the political spectrum is important.

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY
Antoine Destutt de Tracy (1954-1836) coined the term Ideology during the
French Revolution and subsequently used in public in 1796. Ideologie according to
Tracy is a new “science of ideas” from a literal term idea-logy (Heywood, 2012).
Ideology becomes a political weapon to condemn or criticize opposing arrays of
ideas or beliefs system.
Beliefs – are people’s assessment of reality and what they hold to be true whereas,
Values – are people’s ideas about right and wrong. Therefore, when beliefs and
values are put together in a coherent system, they form IDEOLOGY.

An ideology is a set of opinions or beliefs of a group or an individual. Very often

ideology refers to a set of political beliefs or a set of ideas that characterize a
particular culture.
An ideology is a collection of normative beliefs and values that an individual or
group holds for other than purely epistemic reasons.
[1] In other words, these rely on basic assumptions about reality that may or may
not have any factual basis. The term is especially used to describe systems of
ideas and ideals which form the basis of economic or political theories and
resultant policies. In these there are tenuous causal links between policies and
outcomes owing to the large numbers of variables available, so that many key
assumptions have to be made.

Heywood – attached some meaning of meanings of ideology are as follows:

 2

1. Political belief system.

2. An action – oriented set of political ideas.
3. Ideas of the ruling class.
4. The world view of a particular social class or social group.
5. Political ideas that embody or articulate class or social interest.
6. Ideas that propagate false consciousness amongst the exploited or oppressed
7. Ideas that state the individual within a social context and generate a sense of
collective belongings.
8. An officially sanctioned set of ideas used to legitimate a political system or
regime.
9. All embracing political doctrine that claims a monopoly of truth.
10. An abstract and highly systematic set of political ideas.
Thus, Political Ideologies could be seen as commitments in order to change
political system (Roskins, etc., 2012).

Distinguished Ideologies from Ideas (Macridis in Ranney, 1995)

1. Comprehensiveness – an ideology covers ideas pertaining many great

matters, such as human beings place in the universal domain, man’s
relationship to the Devine being, the highest goals of society and
government, the essential nature of people and the best means of achieving
the highest social and political objectives.
2. Pervasiveness – set of ideas has not only seen known for a long time but
has shaped the political beliefs and actions of many people.
3. Extensiveness – set of ideas is held by a large number of people and plays
a vital role in nations and states political affairs.
4. Intensiveness – set of ideas commands a strong commitment from many of
its adherents and significantly influences political beliefs and actions.

Characteristics of Ideology
 Ideologies have their levels end in-ism.
 Ideologies provide an explanation for problems that confronts modern
societies by providing futuristic vision.
 Ideology is action oriented.
 Ideologies mobilize a large number of people.

Features of Ideology (Heywood, 2012)

 It offers an account of the existing order, usually in the form of a “world
view”.
 It advances a model of the desired future, a vision of the good society.
 It explains how political change can and should be brought about -how to
get form the two other features.

Intellectual Components of an Ideology

 Values.
 The vision of the Ideal Polity.
 The conception of the Human Nature.
 The strategy of Action.
 Political Tactics.
 3

Functions of Ideologies
1. Ideology addresses a basic human psychological need such as safety,
freedom, and community.
2. Ideology provides its believes with a sense of understanding history and
with clues about what kinds of things they should pay attention to or ignore.
3. Ideology is essential.
4. Ideology is powerful.

Social Role of Ideologies

1. Ideologies answer eternal questions and cut off competing beliefs and
values.
2. Ideologies explain how the universe works and why it works that way; and
3. Ideologies tell us how to behave; they help us predict the future.
Disclaimer: The statements stated above are borrowed from the online sources. The Department of Education does not claim or own
the presented statements. Links for the sources are found in the reference part of the Self-Learning Home Task.

ideology is more or less a coherent set of ideas that direct or organize

a specific political action. It consist of belief and value systems, a
discussion of existing power relationships, an exploration of how
political change is achieved in line with these power relations and an
illustration of a desired future (Heywood 2013).

MAJOR POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES AND THEIR KEY TENETS

(Heywood 2013)

1. ANARCHISM
 Political authority in all its form, and especially in the form of
the state, is both evil and unnecessary (anarchy literally
means ‘without rule’).
 The sovereign, compulsory, and coercive authority of the state
is seen as a nothing less than legalized oppression operating
in the interests of the powerful, propertied, and privileged.
 Anarchist prefers a stateless society. Individuals can best
manage their own affairs through voluntary agreement and
cooperation.

2. CONSERVATISM
 Tradition must be conserve. These traditions include
established customs, institutions, and ways of doing
things that have endured through time.
 The belief in pragmatism highlights the limits of human
reason. As a belief, pragmatism emphasizes that the
action should be shaped by practical circumstances and
goals.
 Human imperfection presents the pessimistic view of
 4

conservatives on the individual. Accordingly, individuals are

morally corrupt and are therefore the sources of crime and
disorder. Order could thus be achieved through a strong
state.
 Conservatives believe that society is an organic whole and
is a living entity, more than being an artifact of human
ingenuity. This belief is known as organicism.
 Conservatives also believe that social position and status
are only natural. With this, hierarchy is thought to be
inevitable.
 Authority must be exercised from above. Leadership is
provided to guide and support those who lack knowledge
and education and those who have little capacity to act for
their own interest.
 Conservatives look at property as significant because it is
the individual’s source of security and independence from
the government.
3. FACISM
 Ultranationalist ideology. As such, it subscribes to the idea
of a supreme race, whose members should enjoy the
natural resources. It is by nature exclusive as it excludes
nonmembers of the race.
 Manifested during Mussolini’s facist dictatorship in Italy
and Hitler’s dictatorship in Germany.
 Common values upheld are struggle, leadership, power,
heroism, and war.
 The “new man” or a hero who is motivated by duty, honor,
and self-sacrifice; and gives unrelenting obedience to the
supreme leader is a fascist ideal.
 Fascists believe in a unified national community of
strength through unity. As such, individual identity is not
as important as that of the social group or community.

4. FEMINISM
 A diverse but its unifying theme is the desire to enhance
the social role of women.
 Society is characterized by sexual or gender equality.
 The structure of male power must be overturned, hence
the belief in gender equality.
 Its strands include liberal feminism, socialist
feminism and radical
feminism.
 5

5. LIBERALISM
 Belief in individualism underscores the importance of the
human individual compared to any other group.
 Liberty of the individual must be protected. An individual
has freedom when he or she is able to act as he or she
pleases.
 Reason can lead individuals to make wise judgments,
which could solve issues or differences.
 Equality implies that individuals are born equal, at least in
moral terms. Equal rights and entitlements are at its core.
It must be noted , however, that liberals do not endorse
social equality or equality of outcome,
 Tolerance is willingness of individuals to allow others to think
and behave in ways they do not approve. It is a guarantee
of individual liberty.
 Authority and social relationships must also be based on
agreement and consent.

6. SOCIALISM
 Belief in the community highlights the degree to which the
individual is connected with others. Identify is therefore a
product of social interaction more than innate qualities.
 Brotherhood or fraternity speaks of a shared common
humanity Socialist thus prefer cooperation rather than
competition and collectivity rather than individualism.
 Socialists look at society in terms of differences in the
distribution of income or wealth. Social class is believed to
be an important social cleavage, which divides societies.
The interests of the working class and the oppressed
should be upheld. With this, eradicating economic and social
inequalities is deemed as the primary goal of socialism.
 Common ownership is also central to socialist thought.
Unlike private property, common ownership is a means
to harness material resources for the common good.
7. Religious Fundamentalism
Taken form the latin word fundamental, meaning base. It is
associated with inflexibility, dogmatism, authoritarianism or worst
violence. It is characterized by a rejection of the distinction between
policies and religion.

8. Environmentalism
Focusing on the idea that environment is endangered and must be
preserved through regulation and lifestyle changes (Roskin et. Al,.,
2012).
 6

9. Marxism is a theory and method of working-class self-emancipation. As a

theory, it relies on a method of socioeconomic analysis that views class
relations and social conflict using a materialist interpretation of historical
development and takes a dialectical view of social transformation. It
originates from the works of 19th-century German philosophers Karl Marx
and Friedrich Engels.
10.

GUIDE 

For the Teacher: Advise the students to read the reading and discussion portion before they attempt to answer
the practice exercises. Going through the parts sequentially will help them understand easily the topic.

For the Learner: Read through the self-learning home task from the first part to the last. Read also the poem or
short story well. Doing so, will help you analyze critically the literature. 

For the Parent/Home Tutor: Assist your child and make sure that he/she reads the self-learning home task from
beginning to end to ensure proper understanding of the concepts.

Disclaimer: The statements stated above are borrowed from the online sources. The Department of Education does not claim
or own the presented statements. Links for the sources are found in the reference part of the Self-Learning Home Task.