IDEOLOGY AND CIVILIZATION

Ideologies Role in Civilization

Ideologies Role in Civilization

Introduction

Civilization is a social entity defined by its structure, a structure more complex than earlier forms of society. It is not simply the size of a population or its concentration into large settlements that defines a civilization, but rather the specialized functions of its people and their interdependence and collaboration. Civilization is capable of doing more than earlier forms of society because it represents an amassing of energy that can be directed toward specific ends with leadership, especially for actions being considered as unfeasible earlier. As a by-product of that capability, the individual through the use of his or her talents in labor or leisure can achieve a level of productivity or find a degree of fulfillment that otherwise is not possible.

In exchange, however, for the benefits it bestows, a civilization requires the individual to surrender a portion of his or her freedom and autonomy. As rewards, the civilization provides security, instills purpose, and promises happiness. All of these essential characteristics can be found in the history of the earliest civilizations. Yet, in the process of development, each civilization acquired its own distinctive and unique personality that was defined by the ideology in its inherent concepts.

Ideology

The concept of ideology is so basic to the understanding of civilized life that it is at once both the bedrock of much of comprehension of civilization and a main source of disagreement in scholarly and public discourse. In the broadest sense, an ideology is a set of deeply held beliefs and values that shape the behavior of individuals and groups. As such, an ideology is also the affirmative expression of what is normatively desirable in the public realm in terms of both goals and the means needed to achieve those goals.

First coming into use in Europe in the late 1800s, the concept of ideology has long been connected with broad views of civilization philosophy and sweeping theories of the evolution of civilization in the modern and postmodern eras. A limited collection of ideologies, i.e. communism, capitalism, socialism, and fascism, dominated the thinking and dialogue of scholars and the public for much of the 20th century. Often, these labels were applied to entire nations or even regions of the world in terms of its role in defining the approach of people towards civilization. The two major wars of the 1900s, World War I and World War II, have been described as wars fought in the name of ideologies, namely wars waged by the United States and its democratic allies against the forces of antidemocratic imperialism and fascism.

Role of Ideology in Civilization

I personally believe that ideology has contributed positively in the development of civilization. Ignoring the barriers and conflict that arise due to the difference in ideologies, ideology ahs set the fundamentals that defined the approach of society towards civilization. In terms of domestic civilization, U.S. social scientists and the larger public are well versed in the concept of ideology. In the public realm, whether it is liberalism versus conservatism, left versus right, Democrat versus Republican, extremist versus moderate, or some other variation, ...