Understanding Political Ideologies
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Nevertheless, a growing body of thought suggests that contemporary political ideologies have gone beyond the left/right divide.This may apply in the case of new ideologies, which, by virtue of their focus on issues of culture and identity rather than economic organization, no longer easily relate to the left/right battle between socialismand capitalism. ForAnthony Giddens, sociological developments associated with the advance of globalization (see p. 21) have exhausted both left-wing and right-wing ideological tradition. In this view, the tendency for people’s lives to be shaped increasingly by developments that occur, and events that happen, at a great distance from them has created societies that are so fluid and complex that they have, effectively, outgrown the major ideological traditions. Politics, therefore, has gone beyond left and right, a trend that has been particularly evident in the ‘hollowing out’ of parliamentary socialism since the 1990s. However, instead of the emergence of an interconnected and interdependent world leading to ideological exhaustion, globalization may be in the process of replacing the left/right divide with one based on the gulf between ‘open’ and ‘closed’ political leanings (see Figure 1.7). People with ‘open’ political attitudes generally favour globalization, are tolerant or welcoming of cultural diversity, sympathize with an inclusive view of national identity, and typically support liberal social norms and values. By contrast, people with ‘closed’ attitudes are suspicious of, or oppose, globalization, fear cultural diversity, are drawn to an exclusive view of national identity, and usually support conservative social norms and values.
Open Outward looking
Closed
v v v v v v v
Inward looking
Inclusive Diversity
Exclusive Homogeneity Nationalism Social conservatism Protectionsim State sovereignty
Cosmopolitanism Social liberalism Free trade Pooled sovereignty
Figure 1.7 The open/closed divide
KEY FIGURE
ANTHONY GIDDENS (BORN 1938) A UK social theorist, Giddens was an adviser to Tony Blair in the early years of ‘new’ Labour. His theory of ‘structuration’ reinvigorated social theory by setting out to transcend the conventional dualism of structure and agency. In works including Beyond Left and Right (1994), The Third Way (1998) and The Runaway World (1999), Giddens sought to remodel social democracy in the light of the advent of late modernity, taking into account developments such as globalization, de-traditionalization and increased social reflexivity.
Jeff Morgan 12/Alamy Stock Photo
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