Impact of Major Ideologies on World Systems - Essay Example

Impact of Major Ideologies on World Systems Introduction An ideology is a belief often a false one that is meant to convince other people in to accepting something according to Marxist's definition, however systematic ideology finds this definition awkward and tries to discover the origin and description of ideologies and how they interact. Under systematic ideology, an ideology is considered the major motivating factor of human behavior. The conceptions in the ideology are depicted as coming in sets of characteristics and then these sequence forms a system. In system ideology studies people try to discover and understand the world without making changes to it. Systematic ideology integrates all cognitive processes whether logical or illogical, true or false that defines the character of humans explained in theories, assumptions and intuitions. Through these analyses systematic ideology tries to explain why people act the way they do whether subconscious or deliberate. The major ideologies There are a few Major ideologies that have been identified and described by Walford George. They have the greatest impact on world Systems. A World System is a social organization with restrictions, structures, members, legislation and understanding. A world system is also broadly defined as a world economy. There are several world system types that have evolved due to peoples beliefs in the ideologies. Some of the distinct systems are; Anarchism, Socialism, Liberalism, Marxism, Feminism, Capitalism, and Fascism among others. The following is a look at the major ideologies and their impact on world systems. Most of the arguments placed before these ideologies are open to criticism and are not final verdict on the course of world systems. However these are analysis of very respected social analysts like Wallerstein. Expediency Ideology This ideology explains why different people all tend to choose to do tasks that appear to be easier in carrying out and is readily available. Expedient idea is concerned with what happens immediately rather than analyzing past experiences to predict the future (Blake1991). Power is believed to belong to the people and hence most people take steps out of expediency. This ideology is therefore not systematic. Dominion Ideology Describes why people would develop principles, commitments, devotions, and discipline. The thought of people here is based on two options; either False or true, good or bad, sacred or secular and subject or ruler among other options (Blake1991). The impact of such ideology on world systems is that there results in loyalty leadership in politics as well as what is described as conservative. Precision Ideology This ideology is described on the basis of Knowledge, Sense and accountancy. Character is determined by knowledge and belief in ethics, traditional values and compliance. Such ideology allows rational addressing of issues such as humanism, Skepticism, suffering and free thinking as their most important concerns. In terms of political administration, precision ideology tends to be inclined towards the liberal (broadminded) leadership and the inexperienced Bureaucracy. Reform Ideology This ideology is defined by the need for a slow but sure philosophical change; this discusses evolutionary discipline and gradual communism, free thinking under such thought leads to development of leaderships that embrace socialism and communism (Blake1991). In terms or religious belief people may tend to be atheistic, mystical, inspirational or cryptic religious practices. This inspires the world to have internal interrelations hence encouraging corporation. Revolution Ideology This ideology brings about socio-economic conflict by presuming economic and social classes. This conflict can only be resolved by revolution (rebellion) and violence should the need to arise. These values are established aggressively against conservative ones dominating over them and hence ruling them. Such ideology can lead to leadership that is more class oriented as in Marxism where economic capitalists rule over the rest. These principles are criticized for being bourgeois leadership and nationalist politics (it separates a community on basis of ethnicity, social class, and even gender) (Tausch & Prager 1993). Repudiation Ideology This philosophy expresses disapproval of all that has happened before by challenging the government to change, eradication of social class, religious beliefs, and private possession of production plants so as to allow free access to products instead of purchase. Such beliefs tend to bring up Political anarchists who advocate for political revolutionary administration (Blake1991). This is actually the ideology of denial of the reality. The ideology of ideologies This is the combination of the concept in the other ideologies and addresses the problems that arise from their interaction as well as providing solutions. The cases in point include systematic ideology, Fortean studies, and postmodernism. There are only occasional circumstances when these ideologies reach a consensus. Analyzing the seven most important ideologies in sequence, it's noted that there is a decrease of the number of people who believe in Expediency towards the ideology of ideologies. Systematic ideology has the minimum population of all. Confidence in these theories is the principal feature, for example, in expediency; the character of people is centered towards action and very little of theory is entertained as things are done because they ought to, dominion on the other hand tries to give explanation for the need to rule without giving so much details beyond that, Precision explicates itself bringing in science. Reform only gives a perception of how things could be as Revolution gives even additional issues while Repudiation gives comments on things that happened ahead of it. Finally the ideology of ideologies is entirely hypothetical with no realistic application (Tausch & Prager 1993) Integration of political authorities as established by these theories from Expediency to Ideology of ideologies shows an internalization of powers from natural world and the gods to sovereignty, to governments, to soviets then to individuals. In terms of economic freedom and financial power, property changes hands from individual possessions to markets and finally to collective ownership of properties. Analysis by Systematic Ideology Systematic ideology presents an impartial option to social and communism representation of society such as Marxism and provides rational verdict with logically analysis that give sensible conclusions. Most of these ideologies examine the Western world forms of leadership while giving little attention to the Eastern or the rest of the world. A world System is a system that brings together all aspects of social reality into operation restricted by rules, and other regulatory constraints. So far analysts argue that there have been only two forms of world systems i.e. World economies and World empires (e.g. Han China and Roman Empire). A world economy is defined as a large axial sharing out of employment with numerous political centers as well as variety of cultural beliefs (Frank & Gills1993). A world empire on the other hand is defined as described as a large bureaucracy with a central power source and axial division of work in a multi-culture community. World system perspective The basic approach to of world system is its view of imperialism, a term that is used to define the maximum level of capitalism (Sunkel1994). Capitalism in the current society is the machinery by which the 'world' distributes resources from developing world to the industrialized, developed world i.e. democratic world (Raffer & Singer1996). This is a modern method of exploitation that is very sophisticated. Wallerstein describes the sequential features of capitalism as cyclic rhythms represented by short term instabilities such as prices fluctuation in economies while secular developments refers to crucial aspects such as economic growth or decline that is long term problem. An explanation to this issue is for example; reduction of wages to employees may benefit capitalist economies for a short time as they enjoy maximum profits on the other hand considering long term consequences, we find that the capitalist may loose market for their products as a result (Frank & Gills1993) The fundamental nature of world system begun with the assumption that capitalist systems contained internationalized centre of activities, regions and communities of different measures of significance in each country (Wallerstein1974). These centers have a similar way of life and shared the same culture which could be expressed through fashions, social life, housing and reading habits in spite of linguistic barriers. Modernization is therefore depicted as the slow but sure substitution of the traditional production structure with a much more capital intensive venture. Poverty and lack of forward development in developing or third world countries is linked to the peripheral position they are assumed to be occupying on the world division of labor and market (Korotayev et al. 2006). Since the emergence of capitalist world economies, a stark distinction among countries of the core and periphery is quite apparent. The best version of world system analysis was done by Wallerstein who describes a system as a unit that has one labor division as well as multiple cultural organizations (Sunkel, 1994). Conclusion Major ideologies have greatly influenced the Modern World system though this cannot be ascertained as direct influence since different analysts may contradict in their conclusion, However whether the World system existed as early as 4th millennium BCE or not, we can be certain that Major ideologies influenced their emergence. World systems have been a crucial topic for discussion in major worldwide peer-reviewed journals, addressing the notion of economic cycles that fascinates experts. References Abu-Lugod J (1989) Before Europe Hegemony; the World System A.D 1250-1350. Blake T (1991) what is Systematic Ideology retrieved from http://www.gwiep.net/site/whatissi.htm on 13th November 2008 at 5.45 pm. Frank A.G & Gills B (Eds) (1993) The World System; Five hundred or Five Thousand Years London and New York. Routledge, Kegan & Paul. Korotayev A, Malkov, A & Khaltourina, D (2006) Introduction to Social Macrodynamics; Compact Macromodels of the World System Growth. Moscow KomKniga Raffer K & Singer H.W (1996) The Foreign Aid Business: Economic Assistance and Development Cooperation: Cheltenham & Brookfield; Edward Alger. Sunkel, O. (1994) Rebuilding Capitalism; Alternative Roads after Socialism and Dirigusme; Ann Arbor, Mich. University of Michigan Press. Tausch A & Prager F (1993) Towards a Socio- Liberal Theory of World Development. Basingtoke and New York. Macmillan/St. Martins press. Wallerstein I (1974) The Modern World System. New York Academic Press Read More