Political Ideology

POLS-Y490, Indiana University, 2026

Spring 2026 Syllabus

This seminar is dedicated to exploring the origins, meanings, and significance of political ideology. We will investigate ideology as both a system of ideas about how societies should be governed, and as a summary of the political preferences of ordinary citizens and politicians. We will introduce debates about where ideology comes from, and consider how political ideologies explain a range of outcomes that span domestic and international politics.