Ideology, << `y` dee OL uh jee or `ihd` ee OL uh jee, >> is a system of thought based on certain related assumptions, beliefs, and explanations of social movements or policies. An ideology may be economic, political, philosophical, or religious in nature. Some ideologies, such as communism and socialism, refer to economic and political systems. Other ideologies include capitalism (free enterprise); democracy; feminism (the belief that women should have equality with men); Protestantism; racism; Roman Catholicism; and fascism and totalitarianism, two forms of government usually led by a dictator. Many “-isms” are ideologies.
Different ideologies do not rely equally on factual information for support. People who accept an entire thought system usually reject all other systems concerned with the same topic, such as economics, politics, or religion. To such people, only conclusions based on their ideology seem logical and correct. Thus, people strongly committed to one ideology have difficulty understanding and communicating with supporters of a conflicting ideology.
Clashing ideologies held by various nations, social classes, or religious groups have led to the world’s greatest and most dangerous conflicts. For example, World War II (1939-1945) was largely a struggle between nations that were based on democracy or totalitarianism.
