……Impact on contemporary political system

The ancient writing of political thought form a foundation for what

we have now which is contemporary political system. Contemporary
political systems, which are the different ways countries are governed
today, range from democracies, where people have a voice, to
autocracies, where leaders hold significant power. These systems are
shaped by factors like history, culture, wealth, and beliefs. They
involve rules, elections, and decision-making processes, varying in
fairness and openness. Political systems are crucial as they impact
people's lives and the functioning of societies worldwide.
Philosophers such as John Locke whose thoughts on human
understanding, religion, politics still influence the structure and
operation of administration today. Locke is most noted for his
concept of separation of powers and for his ideas about property as
the basis for prosperity. Locke was a key figure in modern political
philosophy because he moderated the more radical teachings of
Thomas Hobbes and Niccolo Machiavelli to make their ideas
acceptable to democratic government.
In politics, Locke is best known as a proponent of limited
government. He uses a theory of natural rights to argue
that governments have obligations to their citizens, have only limited
powers over their citizens, and can ultimately be overthrown by
citizens under certain circumstances.His theories had an impact on
Morden political government as he promoted limited government
and protection of natural rights. Locke's ideas still influence
discussions about democracy, how we're governed, and the rights of
individuals, which affect how politics works today. Rousseau's ideas
were quite different from the prevailing political and social theories
of his era. His emphasis on the value of individual freedom and
equality, and the government's duty in preserving these principles,
contributed to many developments – theoretical and practical – in
the modern world. Both John Locke (1632-1734) and Jean-Jacques
Rousseau (1712-1778) write as early modern social contract
theorists, and both promote reason and freedom as essential
components of political societies

Political ideologies, ranging from liberalism to socialism, have shaped

the diversity of contemporary political systems.Liberalism is the
ideology of the industrialised West, and is sometimes portrayed as a
meta-ideology that is capable of embracing a broad range of rival
values and beliefs. The concept of liberalism as morally neutral stems
from its emphasis on individual freedom as the core value. Liberals
prioritise personal liberty over other considerations such as equality,
justice, or authority, believing in the inherent worth and autonomy
of each individual. However, liberalism also recognises the need for
constraints on freedom to prevent harm to others. Therefore,
liberals advocate for "freedom under the law," striving to ensure that
everyone can enjoy maximum liberty without infringing on the rights
of others. This principle reflects a commitment to balancing
individual autonomy with societal harmony and respect for the rights
of others.Liberalism lastly supports limited government.
Conservatism values tradition, order, and stability, which influence
how conservative-leaning nations are governed.
Socialism emphasise size the importance of social equality, an
equality of outcome as opposed to equality of opportunity

Marx's theory of social justice encompasses a broad range of

elements. It emphasises the importance of freedom, particularly
social freedom from external constraints. He values self-actualisation
and the realisation of human potential. Marx opposes fetishism,
seeking to defend individual freedom against the dehumanising
effects of modern production and capitalism. He advocates for
human emancipation beyond bourgeois notions of equality and
freedom. Marx envisions true democracy as participatory and
inclusive, emphasising workers' self-determination. He believes in
distributing social wealth fairly, based on human creativity and
potential. Marx also distinguishes between economic rights related
to acquisition and political rights in civil society. Marx’s thinking on
justice. In particular, the Greek city-state, the polis, and Aristotle’s
thought provided Marx with an early classical ideal from which he
drew many insights and views relating to his own conception of the
state and of humanity in general.
Marxist perspectives continue to inform critical analyses of power
dynamics, economic structures, and social relations in contemporary
politics, contributing to ongoing discussions about systemic change
and the pursuit of a more just and equitable society

.
Further more in this theory governments were instituted by the
citizens of those governments , rulers have an obligation to be
responsive to the needs and desires of these citizens. Further, in
establishing a government the citizens had relinquished some, but
not all of their original rights. So no ruler could claim absolute power
over all elements of a citizen’s life. If a government doesn't protect
its citizens' rights or tries to control too much, it's not doing its job
properly. In that case, people have the right to revolt and replace the
government with one that keeps the peace and respects everyone's
rights Such ideas show the importance of democratic governance in
modern political system and and reflect the impact of political
thought on the recognition and protection of individual freedoms.
Taking in account from political thought has led to the idea that
governments should be held accountable and responsive this shapes
the dynamics of political participation and activism in contemporary
societies.

The general will, which could also be called the popular will or the
will of the people, refers to the common good or interest of a
collective. For Rousseau, the general will is general with regard
to who wills it (the people as a whole) as well as its object (a general
thing that the people want) this theory informs contemporary
political system by influencing public participation and such and also-
contributing to the functioning and legitimacy of contemporary
democratic societies.

Moreover Globalisation and Neoliberalism also play a role.

Globalisation is a slippery and elusive concept. Despite intensifying
interest in the phenomenon of globalisation since the 1980s, the
term is still used to refer, variously, to a process, a policy, a
marketing strategy, a predicament, or even an ideology.
Kenichi Ohmae’s (1989) idea of a ‘borderless world’. This not only
refers to the tendency of traditional political borders, based on
national and state boundaries, to become permeable; it also implies
that divisions between people previously separated by time and
space have become less significant and are sometimes entirely
irrelevant. Kenichi Ohmae's idea of a 'borderless world' underscores
the interconnectedness and interdependence of contemporary
political systems. In1990s neoliberalism appeared to stand
unchallenged as the dominant ideology of the ‘new’ world economy.
Only a few states, such as China, were able to deal with neoliberal
globalisation on their own terms, limiting their exposure to
competition by, for instance, holding down their exchange rate. ideas
of what during the 1990s came to be called the ‘Washington
consensus’. This led developing states and, after the collapse of
communism, ‘transition’ states, to pursue policies such as free trade,
the liberalisation of capital markets, flexible exchange rates,
balanced budgets and so on. The advent of globalisation and
neoliberalism in the late 20th century transformed the landscape of
contemporary political systems.

Contemporary political systems has faced challenges such as

populism, nationalism and so on.
Populism (from the Latin populus, meaning ‘the people’) has been
used to describe both distinctive political movements and a
particular tradition of political thought. Populist movements or
parties are known for presenting themselves as champions of the
ordinary people against perceived corrupt elites, whether in
economics or politics. Populism is a political tradition that holds that
the desires and instincts of the people should be the main authority
in politics. Populist leaders directly appeal to the people, claiming to
represent their deepest aspirations and concerns. Populism is in
contrast with contemporary political systems as encourages a direct
connection between leaders and the people, skipping traditional
checks and balances. Populist leaders often use divisive language and
simple solutions, which can harm the inclusive decision-making of
modern governance. They may also challenge established rules and
institutions like the law and free press, creating tensions with the
values of modern democracy. . When nationalism is a product of
social dislocation and demographic change, it often has an insular
and exclusive character, and can become a vehicle for racism and
xenophobia. Such ideologies are in contrast with modern political
system and how other theorists have influenced contemporary
political systems.

Finally we can see how the historical evolution of political thought

has impacted contemporary political systems through different
ideologies and different ancient theorists. From ancient philosophical
debates to modern challenges of globalisation and populism. Political
thoughts have created many debates within modern politics .
Political ideas from the past help guide societies toward a fairer,
more inclusive, and democratic future as they deal with different
political situations.

Citation

Fleming, C. (2023, September 25). the philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseasu is

profoundly contemporary.
Griffith, M. (1997). John Locke's influence on American governement and public
administration, 3, 224-237.

UC Berkeley ISUS-X, Tenth Conference of the International Society for Utilitarian

Studies Title "Mill’s Conception of Human Rights" Author Harrar,
Souad Chaherli Publication Date 2008-09-03
Hey wood : Politcs (page 30-38) WHAT IS POLITICAL IDEOLOGY? 28
CLASSICALIDEOLOGICALTRADITIONS

Haywood Andrew VARIETIES OF NATIONALISM page 115

Andrew Haywood GLOBALIZATION 141
Understanding globalization 141 Rise of neoliberal globalization 144 The 2007–09
Crash and its legacy 146