Political Ideology

Within the framework of national politics, there are usually two ways of thinking – a conservative perspective and a liberal approach. In theory, the two ideologies lie in opposite sides of the political spectrum with both having varying beliefs and views on the structure of the society, the government role, and the overall progress of the country. More specifically, conservatism refers to the right-wing politics, and people who ascribe to this ideology believe in the preservation of personal wealth and private ownership (Bardes, Shelley, & Schmidt, 2016). Conservatives believe in free markets, personal responsibility, and limited government control. The conservatives emphasize the importance of empowering individuals to solve their problems without interference from the government. On the other hand, Bardes et al. define liberalism as the left-wing political spectrum that believes in protecting and enhancing individual freedom as the central theme of politics. Liberals believe that the government should provide equal opportunities and equality for everyone. They also believe it is the duty of the government to protect individual and human rights as well as civil liberties. Additionally, liberals emphasize the importance of the government solving everyone’s problems.

Were you surprised by the political ideology to which you belong? Why or why not?

I am a conservative and no I was not surprised to be belonging to this political ideology. I have always interacted with liberals and debated their belief in governmental action to provide equal opportunities and equality for everyone. However, I have always been on the opposing side and contrary to the liberals, I believe in the virtue of personal responsibility, where individuals are free to pursue their goals without unnecessary interference from the government. 

What are the origins of that political ideology?

The conservative political ideology can be traced back to the 18th century to a British philosopher Edmund Burke as captured in his work, Reflections on the Revolution of France (Staab, 2010). Burke has been regarded by many as the father of modern conservatism based on his traditional conservative attitude.

What are your ideology’s prospects for future political success? Do you anticipate that the percentage of adults/ registered voters aligned with the same political ideology as you are likely to increase or decrease in the near future?

Conservatives want to be free, to have virtuous and productive lives, and to be secure from external threats beyond their nation. Conservatives want a society that encourages people to pursue their goals and aspirations without the interference from those in power. At one point everyone including liberals wants the freedom to pursue their goals without interference. They want to be able to acquire personal and private wealth and not experience government interference. Ideally, the percentage of adults or registered voters aligned with the conservative political ideology is likely to increase in the near future. Precisely, while the majority of the youths label themselves as liberal, they tend to shift their political ideology as they age, which is likely to increase the number of conservative voters. Notably, we cannot also ignore the fact that compared to males, females are more in number. Unfortunately, women often tend to be more liberal than men, which is likely to affect the number of conservative voters.

How might this ideological group impact political parties and elections?

Usually, conservatives tend to bend towards the preservation of monarchies, religion, parliamentary government, and the protection of property rights as a way of ensuring social stability and continuity. Thus, the group is likely to maintain monarchies for years or a parliamentary government and remain opposed to change even when it is necessary. The ideology is also likely to be opposed to having more than two parties to prevent unnecessary ideologies influencing the elections. Nonetheless, while the two sides may have differences, their objective is turning the society into a better place.

Conservatism and liberalism are the two opposite sides of the political spectrum. Conservatisms believe in the supremacy of personal freedom, and the ability to pursue one’s goals without government interference. The ideology does not share the quality aspect of the humans like in the case of liberalism. On the other hand, liberalism believes in the availability of equal opportunities and equality provided by the government.

References

Bardes, B. A., Shelley, M. C., & Schmidt, S. W. (2016). American Government and Politics Today: Essentials 2017-2018 Edition. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Staab, J. B. (2010). The Political Thought of Justice Antonin Scalia: A Hamiltonian on the Supreme Court. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.