Ideology

IDEOLOGY IS A COHERENT system of ideas that orients collective conscience in relation to national, political, class, ethnic, or even religious affiliation. It is not simply a philosophy, a scientific doctrine, or a political program held by an individual, but a theoretical framework with a certain power to explain reality and motivate people to action whenever it is accepted by a collectivity and put into practice. As this set of ideas gains wider acceptability and a practical impact, it acquires political status and is recognized as valid. This, in turn, can be used to promote certain attitudes in the general population.

The term ideology has often been used, in a somewhat positive sense, to identify the way by which certain popular groups or movements embrace idealistic ...