Text 1: what is political ideology?

Ideology is one of the most controversial concepts encountered in political analysis. Although the term now tends to be used in a neutral sense, to refer to a developed social philosophy or 'world view', it had in the past heavily negative or pejorative connotations. During its sometimes tortuous career, the concept of ideology has commonly been used as a political weapon to condemn or criticise rival creeds or doctrines.

The term 'ideology' was coined in 1796 by the French philosopher Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836). He used it to refer to a new 'science of ideas'(literally an idea-ology) that set out to uncover the origins of conscious thought and ideas.

From a social-scientific viewpoint, an ideology is a more or less coherent set of ideas that provides a basis for organised political action, whether this is intended to preserve, modify or overthrow the existing system of power relationships.

All ideologies therefore

1. offer an account of the existing order, usually in the form of a 'world view',

2. provide a model of a desired future, a vision of the Good Society and

c) outline how political change can and should be brought about. Ideologies are not, however, hermetically sealed systems of

thought; rather, they are fluid sets of ideas which overlap with one another at a number of points. At a 'fundamental' level, ideologies resemble political philosophies; at an 'operative' level, they take the form of broad political movements.

AFTER-READING activity

♦ Read the text in more depth to do the 'After-reading exercises'

Ex. 1. Comprehension questions:

1. Why did ideology have pejorative connotations?

2. Who coined the term 'ideology' and what is the origin of the word?

3. Why is any ideology to be viewed from a social-scientific viewpoint?

4. What are the main aims of all ideologies?

5. Why aren't ideologies hermetically sealed systems of thought?

6. What do they resemble at a 'fundamental' level?

7. What form do they take at an 'operative' level?

Ex. 2. Terminology:

Match the notions: rationalism, fundamentalism, economic liberalism, big government, pragmatism, meta-ideology, nanny state

with the definitions:

• ... is a theory or practice that places primary emphasis on practical circumstances and goals; it implies a distrust of abstract ideas.

• ... is a higher ideology that lays down the ground on which ideological debate can take place.

• ... is a belief in the market as a self-regulating mechanism tending naturally to deliver general prosperity and opportunity for all.

• ... is interventionist government, usually understood to imply economic management and social regulation.

• ... is a style of thought in which certain principles are recognised as essential 'truths' that have unchallengeable and overriding authority, regardless of their content.

• ... is a state with extensive social responsibilities; the term implies that welfare programmes are unwarranted and demeaning to the individual.

• ... is the belief that the world can be understood and explained through the exercise of human reason, based on assumptions about its rational structure.

• Work with the dictionary and consult the text to do ex. 3, 4

Ex. 3. Translate from English into Russian:

A controversial concept, encountered in political analysis; pejorative connotations; a tortuous career; hermetically sealed systems of thought; fluid sets of ideas; to set out to do something.

Ex. 4. Translate from Russian into English:

Иметь тенденцию; быть использованным; понимание (кон­цепция) идеологии; убеждения и доктрины; создать новый тер­мин; изучать источники осознанной мысли и здравых идей; с социально-научной точки зрения; намереваться сохранить су­ществующую систему; широкие политические движения; рас­сматривать либерализм как идеологию.

Ex. 5. Fill in the gaps in column 'A' with the topical vocabulary units from column 'B\ making all necessary changes

	A		B
1.	His brilliant speech ... a	a.	virtue
	storm of applause.
2.	In different periods of	b.	to bring about
	history the Labour Party
	and the Tories policies ...
	on a number of questions.
3.	The scheme had the ... of	c.	to overlap with one
	being practicable.		another
4.	The murderer ... to life	d.	rivals
	imprisonment.
5.	The UN General Assembly	e.	to be condemned
	... the unprecedented
	aggression.
6.	The ... for power	f.	rival
	exchanged opinions on the
	most urgent problems of
	the day.
7.	Television is a ... attraction	8-	to condemn
	to reading.
8.	The Constitution ... for	h.	to insist, to deny
	equal rights for men and
	women.
9.	The speaker ... on	i.	to provide
	implementing the program
	and ... the allegations of its
	uselessness.
10.	The girl ... her father very	j-	to reject
	much.
11.	The ... are required to fill in	k.	applicants
	all the papers in this room.

12. The UN Security Council 1. to resemble ... the amendments to the draft resolution condemning the interference into internal affairs of that small state.

Ex. 6. Translate into English using 'offer' and 'suggest' and the topical vocabulary

1. Оратор предложил отклонить мою просьбу.

1. Соперник отрицал, что предложил осуществить этот план.

2. Мы предложили ряд программ для решения проблемы на межпартийном уровне.

3. Претендент настаивал, чтобы ему предложили эту работу.

4. Председатель предложил осудить расизм и расовую дис­криминацию.

5. Он вызвался обеспечивать нас свежей информацией.

6. Ему предложили эту работу, и он долгое время отдавал все свои силы любимому делу.

7. Соперничающая группа выступила с новым предложением, что расстроило наши планы.

8. Программа предусматривает целый рял конкретных изме­нений, и мы предложили присутствующим с ними согла­ситься.

9. Вероятно, ему предложат эту роль, он очень похож на за­болевшего актера.

Ex. 7. Explain the uses of Participle I and Participle II and translate the sentences into Russian

1. Ideology is one of the most controversial concepts encountered in political analysis.

2. Although the term now tends to be used in a neutral sense, it had heavily negative or pejorative connotations in the past.

3. The term «ideology» was coined in 1796.

4. Ideology provides a basis for organized political action.

5. It is intended to preserve or modify the existing system of power relationships.

6. Providing a model for a desired future all ideologies overlap with one another on a number of points.

7. They are not hermetically sealed systems.

8. These definitions are loaded with values of a political doctrine.

9. They must reject the notion that ideologies must be liberating or oppressive.

10. Defining the term «ideology» we say that it is an action-orientated belief system, an interrelated set of ideas.

Ex. 8. Open the brackets, using Participles and translate them

1. They considered the application (to date) 1 September 2000.

2. The UN Secretary General condemned the agreement (to sign)

3. last month.

4. The issues (to reject) by the conference were of no importance,

5. A number of amendments (to table) before were now taken into account.

6. The decision (to provide for) some changes aroused everybody's interest.

7. The reports of rival groups (to reveal) these figures have not been issued yet.

8. Some scientists hoped that ideology would enjoy the same status as (to establish) sciences such as zoology and biology.

9. A more (to endure) meaning was (to assign) to the term in the XIX century.

10. The (to rule) class is the (to rule) material and intellectual force.

11. Some scientists believe that the (to define) features of ideology are biased in principle.

12. When (catch) the liar and his apologists attack the one who exposed the lie and excuse the fabrication as being 'in the interest of a 'higher good'.

13. (Translate) into political terms, westernisation means that industrial capitalism is always accompanied by liberal democracy.

Ex. 9. Paraphrase the parts in bold type, using Participle I Model 1. Attribute.

The viewpoints of some scientists who were debating the problem overlapped with one another.

The viewpoints of scientists debating the problem overlapped with one another.

1. The resolution that rejects this amendment is in the focus of attention.

2. The visiting professor who delivers lectures at our Institute enjoys great respect among the stutents.

3. The plan that provided for carrying out the main principles was taken into account.

Model 2, Adverbial modifiers of time, reason or accompanying circumstances

• While the politician was denying his participation in the deal, he was interrupted by a number of questions.

While denying his participation in the deal, he was interrupted by a number of questions.

• As he was against the resolution, he rejected it. Being against the resolution he rejected it.

1. When we saw that it was useless to amend the resolution we withdrew our objections.

2. As the speaker condemned the policy of racial discrimination he pointed out a range of problems.

3. He applied himself to the cause of peace and inspired the others.

4. He was condemned by his party collиgues because he didn't insist on their amendments to be included into the bill.

5. He saw his mistake and stopped arguing.

6. As the reporter was certain that the regime had been overthrown he broke the news to the audience.

7. The National army liberated the village and came across a number of violations of human rights.

8. He spoke at the trial and denied his connection with the murderer.

9. He stood on the doorstep and watched the car of his riva! pull at the gate.

Ex. 10. Translate into English:

1. Для Маркса идеология означала (to amount to) идеи пра­вящего класса, идеи, которые поддерживали (to uphold) классовую систему и увековечивали (to perpetuate) эксплуа­тацию.

2. Однако, он не считал, что все политические взгляды имеют (to be of) идеологический характер,

3. По его мнению, можно провести четкое различие (to draw а clear distinction) между наукой и идеологией, между прав­дой и ложью (falsehood).

4. Альтернативное использование (uses) этого термина было разработано либералами и консерваторами.

5. Некоторые ученые рассматривают (to view) идеологию как «закрытую» систему мысли, которая, претендуя (to claim)

на монополию правды, отказывается терпимо относиться (to tolerate) к оппозиционным идеям и убеждениям.

6. Либералы считают свою идеологию «открытой» в том смысле (in the sense), что она разрешает и даже настаивает на наличии свободных дебатов, оппозиции и критики.

7. Консерваторы интерпретируют идеологию как «абстракт­ную» систему мысли, которая искажает (to distort) полити­ческую реальность, так как претендует объяснять то, что в принципе непостижимо (to be uncomprehensible),

8. Вот почему консерваторы всегда отрицают сам факт своей приверженности (the very fact that they subscribe to) к ка­кой-либо идеологии, предпочитая определять консерватизм как позицию разума (an attitude of mind) и полагаясь (to place faith in) на прагматизм, традицию и историю.

Text 2: Liberalism and conservatism Pre-reading activity:

♦ Learn the topical vocabulary and word combinations VOCABULARY:

1. to commit v - поручать, вверять, совершать: ошибку (а mistake), преступление (crime); заключить в тюрьму, пере­дать суду; to commit oneself - принимать на себя обязатель­ства; commitment п — обязательство; приверженность; committed а - взявший на себя обязательство; заключенный под стражу.

2. to guarantee v - гарантировать, ручаться, обеспечивать, страховать (against); a guarantee п - гарантия, ручательство, залог; a guarantor п — гарант.

3. to abandon v - оставлять, покидать (a city), отказываться от, бросить (привычку - a habit); to abandon oneself to - преда­ваться чему-либо; to abandon oneself to an idea - склоняться к мысли; abandonment n - оставление, отказ от, заброшен­ность; abandoned а — заброшенный, запущенный.

4. to assert v - утверждать, заявлять, отстаивать; to assert oneself — отстаивать свои права; assertion п - утверждение, заявление, phr — a mere assertion - голословное утвержде­ние; assertive а — утвердительный, настойчивый.

5. to accumulate v — накапливать, скапливаться; accumulation n — накопление, скопление; accumulative а — накопивший­ся; accumulator п — собиратель.

6. to promote v — помогать, способствовать, продвигать (по службе, на рынке); promotion п — содействие, продвижение по службе; promoted а — получивший повышение.

быть в действии охватить широкий круг проследить историю/истоки навязать волю обществу проницательность, интуиция, понимание

вернуться к чему-либо

с самого начала

в конце концов, наконец

быть равнозначным ч-л

какими бы добрыми ни были

намерения

подавлять инициативу культ «я», эгоизм

WORDS AND WORD COMBINATIONS

to be in effect

to embrace a broad range of sth to trace something back to impose a will upon society an insight

to roll back to something from the very outset ultimately

to amount to something however well intentioned

to sap initiative the cult of the self

SKIM reading. Work in pairs: look through the text and bring out the topical sentences conveying the main ideas of the text.