public good
the shared beliefs of a political community as to what goals gov't ought to attain (for example, to achieve the fullest possible measure of security, prosperity, equality, liberty or just for all citizens)
ideology
any set of fixed predictable ideas held by politcians and citizens on how to serve the public good
liberal ideology
favor public assistance programs, cuts in military spending, a progressive tax system and gov't regulation
conservative ideology
favor a strong national defense, deregulation of business and industry, and tax cuts on capital gains and inheritances
anarchism
system that opposes in principle the existence of any form of gov't, often through violence and lawlessness
monarchism
system based on the belief that political power should be concentrated in one person (king) who rules by decree
fascism
totalitarian political system that is headed by a popular charismatic leader and in which a single political party and carefully controlled violence form the bases of complete social and political control, differs from communism in that the economic struc
capitalism
economic system in which individuals own the means of production and can legally amass unlimited personal wealth and holds that gov'ts should not impose any unnecessary restrictions on economic activity and that laws of supply and demand can best regulate
capitalism free market
oppose high taxes, social welfar and gov't giveaways
libertarianism
system based on the belief that gov't is a necessary evil that should interfere with individual freedom and privacy as little as possibly; also know as minimalism
socialism
an ideology favoring collective and gov't ownership over individual and private ownership
communism
political system based on radical equality; the antithesis of capitalism
democratic socialism
form of gov't based on popular elections, public ownership and control of the main sectors of the economy, and broad welfare programs in health and education to benefit citizens
welfare state
state whose gov't is concerned with providing for the social welfare of its citizens and does so usually with specific public policies, such as health insurance, minimum wages and housing subsidies
neoconservative ideology
term associated with the ideology of top advisors and cabinet members during the presidency of George W. Bush; are opposed to federal regulation of business and banking, advocate strong national defense, decisive military action in the face of threats or
Utopia
any visionary system embodying perfect political and social order
Plato's republic
consists of three classes farmers and artisan, warrior-auxiliaries and philosopher-guardians in which each excel in one of the three virtues essential to the ideal city state
Plato's ideal state
people excel in one of the three virtues essential to the ideal city state: moderation, courage and wisdom
dystopia
a society whose creators set out to build the perfect political order only to discover that they cannot remain in power except through coercion and by maintaining a ruthless monopoly over the means of communication