Liberalism emerged during the Enlightenment as thinkers began questioning absolute monarchy, inherited privilege, and restrictions on individual freedom. Influenced by philosophers such as John Locke, liberals argued that individuals possess natural rights and that governments exist to protect those rights rather than rule without consent.
10.4 Liberalism: Liberty, Rights, and Individual Choice Read More »
People often disagree about taxes, healthcare, immigration, education, crime, environmental policy, and countless other political issues. Yet beneath these debates, there are usually deeper disagreements about how society should be organized.
10.3 What Is a Political Ideology? Read More »
One of the most influential economic systems in the modern world is capitalism. At its core, capitalism is an economic system in which individuals and businesses can privately own property, invest resources, produce goods and services, and exchange them through markets.
10.2 Capitalism, Markets, and Mixed Economies Read More »
Every society must answer a few unavoidable questions. Who owns property? Who decides how resources are used? What should governments tax? How should wealth be created and distributed?
10.1 Political Economy: Why Economics and Politics Cannot Be Separated Read More »
Individual elections matter, but political scientists are often even more interested in the long-term patterns that emerge across many elections. Sometimes an election changes who holds office. Sometimes it changes the direction of an entire country.
9.4 Realignment, Polarization, and Political Instability Read More »
Module 10 explains how economic systems and political ideologies are connected. It begins with political economy, showing that economics and politics cannot be separated because questions about property, taxation, regulation, public services, and wealth distribution are also questions about power and authority. The module then introduces capitalism as a system based on private property, markets, competition, and profit, while also emphasizing that most countries today actually operate as mixed economies that combine markets with government regulation and public services.
10.0 Political Science Module 10: Economic Systems & Political Ideologies Read More »
In democratic societies, voting is one of the most important ways citizens participate in politics. Yet people often vote differently even when they are faced with the same candidates and political issues. Political scientists study voter behavior to understand why individuals choose to vote—or not vote—and what factors influence their decisions.
9.3 Voter Behavior: Why People Vote the Way They Do Read More »
Every society contains a wide variety of political opinions. Citizens disagree about the role of government, taxation, immigration, healthcare, education, foreign policy, individual rights, and countless other issues. Political scientists study public opinion—the collection of beliefs, attitudes, and preferences held by members of a society about political questions.
9.2 Public Opinion: How People Form Political Beliefs Read More »
Throughout history, governments have risen and fallen, constitutions have been rewritten, revolutions have transformed societies, and new ideas have replaced old ones. Some political changes occur gradually over many generations, while others happen suddenly during periods of crisis.
9.1 Political Change: Why Societies Shift Over Time Read More »
Module 9 explains how political systems change over time by examining political change, public opinion, voter behavior, and long-term shifts such as realignment and polarization. It begins by showing that political change can happen gradually or suddenly and can be driven by factors such as economics, technology, demographics, war, leadership, and social movements. The module then explains public opinion as the collection of political beliefs in a society and shows how those beliefs are shaped by socialization, experience, media, identity, and major events.
9.0 Political Science Module 9: Political Change & Voter Behavior Read More »
