Political Questions

POLITICAL QUESTIONS

Below is a set of questions designed to provide a fairly complete analysis of the assumptions of a political ideology. By using questions like these, one is able to compare the ideologies.

I.  Human nature.

A.  What are the basic characteristics of human beings as human beings?

B.  What effect does human nature have upon the political system?

II.  The origin of society and government of the state.

A.  What is the origin of society? Why does it develop?

B.  What is the origin of government or the state? Why does it develop?

III.  Political obligation (duty, responsibility, law).

A.  Why do people obey the government?

B.  Why should people obey the government, or should they obey it at all?

C.  Is disobedience ever justifiable?

D.  Is revolution ever justifiable?

IV.  Freedom and liberty (rights-substantive and procedural).

A.  Are men and women free in any way vis-à-vis the government?

B.  Should they be free vis-à-vis the government?

C.  Assuming that some type, or types, or freedom are both possible and desirable, what should these be? Should they be limited or unlimited? Who places the limits?

V.  Equality.

A.  Are individuals in any way “naturally” equal?

B.  Should they be in any way equal?

C.  Assuming that some type, or types, or equality are both possible and desirable, what should these be? Should they be absolute or relative? If relative, what criteria should be used to establish them? Who establishes the criteria? Who enforces the criteria?

VI.  Community (fraternity).

A.  Should ties among individuals composing a group form a bond that takes precedence over the needs and wishes of the individual members of the group?

B.  If this is desirable, how can it be encouraged? If this is undesirable, how can it be discouraged? Who decides?

VII.  Power (authority).

A.  Should any individual or group of individuals be able to control, determine, or direct the actions of others?

B.  If this is desirable, what form or forms should it take? Should it be limited or unlimited? Who limits and how?

VIII.  Justice.

A.  It is usually assumed that justice is desirable, but what is it? Is it individual or social?

B.  Who decides the characteristics of justice? Who enforces these characteristics?

IX.  The end of society or government.

A.  For what purposes does society or government exist?

B.  Who decides these purposes or are they consciously chosen?

X.  Structural characteristics of government.

A.  What is the best or best possible form of government? Why?

B.  Are there alternative forms of government that are equally valid? What is the standard of judgement? Who decides?

Lyman Tower Sargent, Contemporary

Political Ideologies, 4th ed., Dorsey, pp.10-12