Analysis of Ideology in America by Ellis, C., & Stimson, J. A. (2012) - Book Report/Review Example

Introduction The United States is arguably the largest democracy in the world. Additionally, the country has the strongest economy. Both facts continue to influence the position of the country and its relations with many other countries throughout the world. The country often portrays itself as a liberal society, one in which the citizens enjoy immense social liberties. Christopher Ellis and James A Stimson investigate the political ideologies in the country thereby unearthing some of the fundament paradoxes that continue to influence the country’s social structure. In doing this, the two maintain that the United States is a conservative country with the populace appreciating its conservative social structure and institutions. The two explain that the citizenry considers itself conservative but supports and appreciate the liberal ideologies and decisions in specific policy issue. This way, the two develop a contradictory structure in their book but provides an ordered insight in the country’s social and political systems as the review below portrays. In chapter one, the two discuss the meaning of ideology and its application in the United States. Ideology refers to a set of ethical ideologies, principles and beliefs that influence the social composition and structuring of a society. Key among the ideologies in the United States is conservative and liberal. The two are contradicting ideologies given their respective explanation of social and political composition of both the society and the government. The application of the two ideologies in the same country creates room for numerous conflicts, which the two discuss extensively in both the chapter and successive chapters in the book. The existence of both contradictory ideologies in the country thus hints to the presence of numerous paradoxes in the country’s social and political systems. The two introduce and discuss the nature of the conflict with the first chapter. Some of the primary values that Americans believe in include the existence of a limited government, individual liberties and free market. Just as stated earlier, America is a democracy implying that all eligible Americans participate in periodic elections where they elect leaders. Key among the limiting features of American governments is the fact that they exist for a four-year duration before Americans take part in yet another elections. The government forms the structures of governance thus creating a conducive environment for the existence of the people and their property. A free market system is one in which people are free to trade in their products and services. Americans create companies thereby enhancing the growth of the economy with the government always playing on overall supervisory role without interfering with the nature of the market. The country’s constitution has an elaborate bill of rights that outline the various freedoms and right of the people. Such is a vital inclusion in the constitution since it enhances the creation of liberal society, one in which the citizenry enjoy specific freedoms. Among the tenets of liberalism, include individualism, which implies that the individual is always of a higher priority than the society. Americans believe in individualism and do not always have a common social identity. The constitution upholds the liberties of the people thus explaining the various religious and social beliefs of the diverse people in the society. Equality is yet another phenomenal feature of the American liberalism. Equality implies that every citizen is morally and legal equal, “equality of opportunity is a core component of liberalism” (Ellis & Stimson, 2012, page 3). The American government upholds the value of equality and therefore creates equal opportunity for Americans at various stages with the view to providing the citizens with equal moral and political equality. Rationalism and progress are yet other intricate features of American liberalism. Americans believe that people can reason logically thus solve personal problems and conflicts. The American government has systematic structures that enhance the maintenance of law and order. The law enforcement agencies must enhance the creation of a safe and conducive environment by facilitating the resolution of personal conflicts. The constitution provides suspects with specific rights most of which safeguard their human value and rational minds. The Miranda rights coupled with the fact that the law enforcers treat suspects as innocent citizens until they prove guilt ensures that the country remains lawful and protects the basic human rights. Progress on the other refers to the growth of knowledge and improvement of the social status of Americans. Americans do not keep traditions unless the traditions contribute to the enhancement of science and technology among other disciplines of value to the economy. As such, liberals support specific policies that add value to the citizenry by creating a level society, one in which everyone has equal access to the fundamental services of life. Liberals will for example support the development of free schools among other economic policies that enhance the redistribution of resources in order to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich. Key among the social issues with the recent past in the society included abortion, gun control, taxation, affirmative actions and gay marriages. In all the cases, liberals maintained systematic mindsets and arguments that show their desire to create a safe, just and progressive society. Liberals argue that the government should formulate stringent policies to control illegal guns in the society. Key among such is a punitive fine among other heavy restrictions. Liberals believe that the government should legalize abortion and make it open to every woman in the society. On taxes, liberals the government should enact high yet progressive tax regimes. Liberals also argue that affirmative actions are necessary in order to recover the country’s history characterized with intense racial and gender based discrimination. Liberals are proponents of civil liberties; they therefore argue that the government should legalize gay marriages. As explained earlier, liberal viewpoints enhance the creation of a free and progressive society. Such societies value human life thus creating a conducive environment for the growth and development of every citizen. Conservatism is yet another fundamental political ideology that continues to influence the social structure of the American society with public opinion remaining divergent on nearly every social issue. Conservatives seek to create efficient and responsible social structures. As such, the proponents of the ideology argue for self-reliance of the economy and independence of the country. Additionally, conservatives argue that the government should not always influence private economic issues. Religious conservatism influences the social belies and societal values of the people an equally important feature that influences the people’s viewpoint and opinions. Conservatism began as an objection t the spread of liberal ideologies. The existence of both ideologies in the same country thus shows the existence of specific paradoxes in the country. The two authors investigate the attitudes and opinions of American in the various chapters of the book to conclude that Americans are conservative, albeit symbolically. Key among the features of the American populace that portray their conservatism ideologies includes their belief on stability. Americans continue to vouch for the stability of their government. They believe that without stability, the society would plunge into chaos thereby lose its prestigious position as the world’s superpower. As such, Americans often support policies that enhance the stability of their country. Besides stability, conservatives vouch for the independence of the country and its self-reliance. Americans are patriotic and believe that their economy is the strongest economy globally. They therefore support policies that sustain such. Unlike liberals, conservatism argues for the concreteness of the society. Conservatives argue that liberalism is abstract and does not provide definite way of life. They explain that liberals vouch for freedom and equality of the society but do not provide a definite social structure in the society. As such, conservatives therefore vouch for a concrete social structure, one that the government has a definite social structure and understands daily activities of the people. Additionally, Conservatives argue that liberals are always unrealistic and since they do not consider the fallibility of the people. As such, conservatism explains that people have weaknesses, are prejudicial and always ignorant. Such features affect the quality of life in a society. As such, the ideology considers such features thus encouraging a social structure in which the government influences the lives of the people thus the social structure. Conservatives argue that the government must ban abortion owing to the fact that the act is immoral. They would vouch for fewer restrictions on gun policies. They would also claim that affirmative actions are unfair since they favor others at the expense of the others. Additionally, conservatives campaign for the abolition of gay marriages since they are immoral. In most cases, Americans share such ideologies interchangeably a feature that portrays a mixed population facing numerous identity crises. In retrospect, the existence of various political ideologies in the country portrays the country’s political and economic maturity. However, such features often portray numerous paradoxes that characterize the country’s political and economic systems. The country has a conservative population, one that adopts stringent political policies that enhance the stability and independence of the country. Besides such, the populace often favors liberal policies in most cases owing to the existence of appropriate legal frameworks that uphold the value of humanity and the freedoms necessary in enhancing such. The populace remains conservative while possessing liberal qualities by favoring policies that promise to uphold the freedom of the people. Reference Ellis, C., & Stimson, J. A. (2012). Ideology in America. New York: Cambridge University Press. Read More