Political Ideas, Spring 2009. Exam 1 Review. Test date: 2/19/09

To best use this guide, work on defining and understanding the topics presented here and come to the review session with any topics you are unsure on, rather than trying to cram all your review into the one session. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me for further clarification. – John Todsen ([email protected])

Ideology - know the definitions of the following and be able to explain the concepts thoroughly: o o Agent o Obstacle o Goal o Explanation o Evaluation o Orientation o Political Program o Human Nature - Understand the role of the Enlightenment in contributing to the proliferation of modern ideology - What is nationalism? What is ? Why are these two concepts not considered ideologies in their own right?

Democracy - The most important thing to remember about democracy is the essentially contested nature of the idea. Most of the ideologies we will talk about throughout the semester will attempt to make a claim on democracy as its own. - Be able to discuss the contributions of the various thinkers we mentioned in class - What are the kinds of democracy that we have talked about in class? - How has democracy developed over time? - Why has democracy been seen as a threat to government for most of history? - Why do you think that Churchill once said “democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried”? Why not just say it is the best?

Liberalism - be able to explain thoroughly from a liberal perspective the following terms: o Freedom o Agent o Obstacle o Goal o Explanation o Evaluation o Orientation o Political Program o Human Nature - Understand the concept of the state of nature. Be able to explain it from both a Hobbsian and a Lockean point of view. - Where do the historical roots of lie? - What three revolutions are most commonly associated with liberalism in general? What contributions did each make to the movement? - What sorts of links are there between liberalism and economics? - Understand the different incarnations of liberalism: o Neoclassical Liberalism, , Social Darwinism, Welfare Liberalism, Libertarian Anarchism, and the Minimal State

Conservatism - be able to explain thoroughly from a conservative perspective the following terms: o Freedom o Agent o Obstacle o Goal o Explanation o Evaluation o Orientation o Political Program o Human Nature - what is the difference between classical and modern conservatives? - What is the difference between an atomistic and an organic view of humanity? - Understand Burke on idea of government and changes to it, human nature and the . - Explain the perception of conservatism as a reactionary force. - Explain what Hegel means by “You can’t jump over Rhodes.” How does this idea play out in some of the other readings for this section? - Understand the different incarnations of conservatism: o Cultural Conservatism, Tory Democracy, Conservatism in the US, Traditional Conservatism, Conservatism, Neoconservatism and the role of the Religious Right in modern American politics.