Ideologies: concepts, history, and comparative analysis

Rating Ideologies

Environmentalism is the ideology I agree with the most. People talk about "killing" the Earth, but humans are not killing the Earth. We are so insignificant, compared to the Earth's lifespan and what it has created and seen, that we cannot kill the Earth; we can only weaken it. However, if we damage the Earth enough, we will end up annihilating humankind.

Democratic Socialism is the ideology I agree with the second most. I agree that "the unbridled power of transnational corporations, underwritten by the major capitalist nations, has created a world economy where the wealth and power of a few is coupled with insecurity and downward mobility for the vast majority of working people -in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres." (Democratic Socialists of America). While exploitation of the masses may be the most prevalent combination of government and economic power, it has proven detrimental, not only to the people of the world, but to the world, itself, by creating large-scale global problems like pollution and global warming. Socialists believe in "a vision of humane international social order based on democratic planning and market mechanisms to achieve equitable distribution of resources, meaningful work, a healthy environment, sustainable growth, gender and racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships." (Democratic Socialists of America).

3. Feminism is another idealogy with which I agree. I believe that human beings are essentially equal, without regard to gender, while still recognizing gender differences. I believe that gender-based restrictions are patently unfair and work a tremendous disadvantage to both male and female members of society. In addition, the threat of violence, especially sexual and domestic violence, continues to be used to keep women in subservient positions, and this behavior exists throughout a woman's life; until that threat is eradicated, women will continue to be treated as second-class citizens. (NOW).

4. Oddly enough, I actually find myself agreeing with many aspects of the neo-conservative ideology, though many other aspects of it puzzle me. American neoconservatives adhere to the belief that the United States has a responsibility to act in its capacity as the leading Superpower, to bring democracy to the world at large. While I disagree with the violent manner that has been used to do so, I do believe that countries like the United States do have that responsibility.

5. I agree with liberalism, because it promotes individual liberty and equal opportunity. However, I believe that liberalism, as practiced, sometimes fails to reward those who work harder than others.

6. I disagree with fascism. Fascism promotes the whole of society over the individual, which appears to be a sound policy. However, in reality, fascist societies result in the widespread denial of basic human rights to those who do not fit into the government vision of normalcy.

7. I disagree with communism as an ideology, because its focus on collective ownership of resources ignores one of the basic truths about human nature: greed. Communist systems place far too much power in the hands of those who control the resources, and that power has been abused in every single communist government that has ever been established.

8. Conservativism is one of the ideologies I agree with the least. I disagree with it because one of its driving principles is an entirely free market. Conservatives believe that "Economic freedom is essentially about ensuring human rights. Strengthening and expanding it guarantees an individual's natural right to achieve his or her goals and then own the value of what they create." (Kim). However, this view ignores the fact that many of the most oppressive regimes resulted from the imperialistic spread of free-market capitalism, and its attendant impact on native natural and human resources.