Human Sociability, Political Ideologies, and Societal Challenges
Human Sociability vs. Animal Sociability
Key Differences Between Human and Animal Social Behavior
Animal Sociability
In the wild, animals are sorted and structured thanks to their instincts.
Human Sociability
- Socio-natural trend
- Social organization: freedom, intelligence
Political Science
Political science studies the institutional economics and government of a society.
Political Ideology
Definition of Ideology
A set of ideas, beliefs, principles, and rules that a person, company, or time has, which is manifested in how we interpret our world.
Definition of Political Ideology
A set of beliefs, prejudices, customs, and ideas related to the institutional organization of society and state governments, which are manifested in our actions and policy preferences.
Political Problems
Ethnocentrism
Definition
An attitude about imposing beliefs, values, ideas, and customs of one people over another because they are considered the only true and correct ones, judging others as erroneous.
Examples
The Greeks and the Romans regarded the culture and institutions of neighboring towns as inferior.
Respect and Tolerance
Definition of Tolerance
Respect, promotion, and protection of individual and collective rights (such as free speech, religious freedom, political freedom, etc.).
Respect and the Limits of Tolerance
Definition of Respect: Tolerance compatible with freedom and human dignity.
Examples of Challenges to Respect and Tolerance
- Ideological manipulation
- Religious fundamentalism
- Euthanasia
- Biological experimentation
- Sexual freedom
The Problem of Reconciling Freedoms
Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism
Authoritarianism
Definition
A political regime based on religious dogmas and the use of treachery.
The Case of Franco’s National Catholicism
A fundamentalist regime in Europe that emerged in the late 19th century, based on the rejection of liberal and progressive ideas and the implementation of a Catholic state in Spain.
Characteristics
- Dogmatic and intolerant reactionary attitude
- Uncompromising defense of traditional doctrines, rejecting all openness or freedom
Totalitarianism
Definition
A political doctrine and regime where all powers are in the hands of a single party led by a leader who does not accept any kind of opposition.
Characteristics
- Dogmatic and monolithic ideology
- Single party
- Charismatic leader
- Control of society (culture, economy, etc.)
- Indoctrination of the population
Cases of Totalitarianism
Italian Fascism Under Mussolini
Definition
A political movement created in 1912. Italian fascism comes from the word “fasces,” referring to Roman lictors.
Characteristics
- Predominance of the nation over individuals
- National exaltation of the state
- Existence of a single party
Nationalism Under Hitler
Definition
A German political movement, an expansionist dictatorship that emerged after World War I, characterized by racist nationalism.
Characteristics of the Aryan Race
Racist principle: History is dislocated in favor of the superior race (considered the Aryan race), destined to dominate, especially over the Jews, considered the cause of German decadence.
Consequences: Persecution and Extermination of the Jewish People
Antisemitic Principle: The Jewish race is considered an impure race, the primary source of ideologies that harm the Aryan race.
Result: Nazi genocide, resulting in the extermination of 6 million Jews.
Secondary Characteristics
- Exaltation of violence
- Exaltation of the Führer
- Imposition of military discipline
- Exaltation of heroism
- Imperialism
- Bellicism
Bolshevism
Definition
(“Bolshevism” comes from “bolshevik,” which means “majority” in Russian) Term used to designate the government and the communist system of the USSR during Stalin’s dictatorship.
Characteristics
- The party is considered the sole holder of philosophical and political truth.
- Control of the official ideology
- Abolition of political and social liberties
- Imperialist character, aspiring to extend worldwide
Fascism
- Rejection of both left-wing and right-wing ideologies
- Predominance of the nation over individuals
- National exaltation of the state
- Military structure
- Seeking uniformity of the population (through indoctrination)
- Single party: the Fascist Party
- Control of workers’ organizations
- Elimination of all political opposition