Scene and Retrieval LUT Generation

Another legitimating quality in political systems is an ideology - an explicit set of values that orients people in society in terms of what they can expect from government and what government should do for them and society.

Ideology as a social belief and meaningful system, it usually forms the basis of social, economic and political programmes. In other words, it not only speaks to human nature but the role of government in society and the relationship between politics and economics. Similarly, each ideology has its sacred documents and programme of action for realizing its agenda for society. It has its beliefs referring specifically to social and/or political structure and requires high affective identification, loyalty, and commitment.

While ideology may undergo slow changes in its tenets, it is resistant to

105 fundamental alterations in its world view (Webb, 1995). There are many other variations of ideologies which have existed or still exist, for example, communism, capitalism, conservatism, liberalism and socialism etc. In societies where democracy has taken root, if any, and become firmly consolidated, political parties are delineated by their ideologies. However, let it be said that there is no distinct ideology anywhere in the world as it were as claimed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, in countries like the US, there is no honest ideological distinction between the Democrats and the Republican; in other words, there is a blend of ideologies in the traditional usage all over the world.

In Nigeria, it is often heard that political parties are not delineated ideologically or Nigeria is not an ideological country. However, this may not be correct if the meaning of ideology is linked to what people actually and not what they profess to do. The argument here is that what unites many politicians in Nigeria today is not party ideology so to speak but self-interests that are driven by entrenched corruption. But the question is: can self-interest be an ideology? A question like this has made some scholars argue that what a country or leaders repeatedly do to influence governance and development-whether negatively or positively, is ideology even it is not well crafted into a document. If this is any guide, countries where corruption is a national pastime and a legitimating tool, of course, corruption can be said to be their ideology. For instance, when the majority of a country’s political elites are at home with a primitive and greedy accumulation of wealth while still constantly working against anti-corruption, will it be logical to consider corruption as an ideology or reigning ideology the same way anticorruption can also be an ideology? In any case, and whatever is thought of ideology, students should be able to know that ideology can be a cultural system, belief system, a determinant of policy, false consciousness or false class consciousness, and a tool for problem-solving.

3.5.1 Functions of Ideology

In line with the above summations, it is pertinent to note according to Enemuo (1999) that ideology serves as a legitimating tool in a political system. It provides leaders with the legitimacy to govern, promote social coherence, facilitate conflict management, a guide to policy choice and assessment of conduct, and a dynamic tool and framework for making policy choices by the government and the parameters for assessing the conduct of officials and the performance of government, and of course, provides an explanation of reality to its adherents and seeks to motivate them to action.

SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

Corruption is an ideology when it is a legitimation and a reigning legitimating tool. Discuss.

4.0 CONCLUSION

This unit argued that all regimes seek legitimacy because it makes people believe that institutional structures of the government are the most appropriate for society. You also learnt that authority is the quality of being able to get people to do things because they think the individual or group has the right to tell them what to do, while power is explained as involving domination – without legitimacy. We also argued that ideology is what a country or leaders show commitment to and used as a legitimating tool when it becomes a value system.

5.0 SUMMARY

In this unit, we have examined the concept of political power; types of power, the differentiating features between power, authority and influence as well as the role ideology plays in a political system.

6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT

1. Discuss the mathematical formula: Power + Legitimacy = Authority.

2. Describe how ideology legitimates a political system.

3. Corruption is an ideology in Africa. Discuss.

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING

Acemoglu, D. & Robinson, J. (2013) Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty. London: Crown Publishers.

Anifowose, R. (1999). “Power, Influence and Authority.” In: Anifowose, R.

and Enemuo, F. (Eds). Element of Politics. Lagos: Malthouse Press Ltd. pp. 103-123.

Ball, A. (1988). Modern Politics and Government. Hong Kong: ELBS and Macmillan.

107 Crick, B. (1978). “Basic Concepts for Political Education.” In: Crick, B &

A. Porter, A. (Eds). Political Education and Political Literacy.

London: Longman.

Dahl, R. (1957). “The Concept of Power.” In:Behavioural Science, Vol.

2. July. pp. 201-15.

Dahl, R. (1961). Who Governs? New Haven: Yale University Press.

Dahl, R. (1991). Modern Political Analysis. (5th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ:

Prentice-Hall.

Enemuo, F. (1999). “Political Ideas and Ideologies.” In: Anifowose, R.

and Enemuo, F. (Eds). Element of Politics. Lagos: Malthouse Press Ltd.

Etzioni, A. (1970). “Power as a Societal Force.” In: Olsen, M. (Ed.). Power in Societies. London: The Macmillan Co. pp. 18-27.

Fasuba, A. (1978). Elements of Government. Ado-Ekiti: Omolayo Standard Press and Bookshop Co. (Nig.) Ltd.

Friedrich, C. (1963). Man and His Government. New York: McGraw Hill Book.

Golhamer, H. & Shills, E. (1965). “Types of Power and Status.” In: Ulmer, S. (Ed.). Introductory Readings in Political Behaviour. Chicago:

Mcnally and Co. Pp. 334-342.

Lasswell, H. & Kaplan, A. (1950). Power and Society. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Lawson, K. (1997). The Human Polity: A Comparative Introduction to Political Science. (4th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Lipson, L. (1993). The Great Issues of Politics: An Introduction to Political Science. (9th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall.

Mills, W. (1953). The Power Elite. New York: OUP.

Shively, W. (2005). Power and Choice: An Introduction to Political Science.

New York: McGraw Hill.

Simon, H. (1965). “Notes on the Observation and Measurement of Political Power.” In: Ulmer, S. Introductory Readings in Political Behaviour.

Chicago: McNally and Co. Pp. 303 -376.

Swinburn, I. & Renwick, A. (1981). Basic Political Concepts. London:

Hutchington.

Webb, K. (1995). An Introduction to Problems in the Philosophy of Social Sciences. London: Pinter.

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UNIT 2 POLITICAL CULTURE