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End of Ideology

The document discusses the "End of Ideology" debate that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s among Western liberal scholars who argued that the age of ideology had come to an end. Prominent proponents included Daniel Bell, Seymour Lipset, and W.W. Rostow. However, critics argued it was a propaganda effort to establish the supremacy of the Western world. More recently, the rise of right-wing parties, Asian values discourse, new social movements, and religious fundamentalism show that ideology still plays an important role in politics and society.

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Avijith Chandramouli
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380 views

End of Ideology

The document discusses the "End of Ideology" debate that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s among Western liberal scholars who argued that the age of ideology had come to an end. Prominent proponents included Daniel Bell, Seymour Lipset, and W.W. Rostow. However, critics argued it was a propaganda effort to establish the supremacy of the Western world. More recently, the rise of right-wing parties, Asian values discourse, new social movements, and religious fundamentalism show that ideology still plays an important role in politics and society.

Uploaded by

Avijith Chandramouli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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End of Ideology debate

It started in 1950’s and 1960’s by Western liberal scholars and declared that age of ideology
has come to end. The prominent exponents were Daniel Bell, Seymour Lipset and W.W
Rostow.

 Daniel Bell in his book End of Ideology has argued that, we are living in the age where
political ideology have lost relevance and development has become primary concern
i.e. economics trumps over politics.
o He justifies his argument by quoting the example of Capitalist USA and
Communist China working together.
 W.W Rostow in his book Stages of Economic growth- Noncommunist Manifesto
argues that, all societies irrespective of their ideologies goes through similar phases of
development.
 Seymour Lipset in his book Political Man, argues, superiority of democracy has been
well established and everyone recognizes democracy as best way of life.
 Francis Fukuyama in his book End of history and the last man gave the concept of
‘End of history’ after the collapse of former USSR. He declared that liberal democracy
was now universal.
However critics of end of ideology have argued that it was propaganda of the Western liberal
scholars to establish the supremacy of the Western world.
 Scholars like Richard Titmus have highlighted the monopolistic concentration of
economic power, social disorganization and cultural deprivation in western world.
o For instance, Occupy Wall street movement against economic inequality,
Discrimination against Blacks in USA
 C. Wright Mill has criticized saying that it tries to maintain status quo.
 Communitarians like Alasdain MacIntyre says end of ideology itself is ideology.
The contemporary world is not free from ideology.
 For instance, we can observe right wing parties coming to power in various parts of
world. This signifies that ideology still plays important role.
 Asian leader talk about Asian Values opposite to Liberal Values shows that liberal
democracy is not universal.
 As against end of ideology debate, Feminism and Ecologism have emerged as new
ideologies. In recent times LGBTQ+ movement have become very popular as well.
 Due to imposition of liberal ideology, the ‘ideological affinity’ has increased. For
instance, Raise of fundamentalism in various parts of the world like ISIS.
 In India, religion, caste, and ideology of hindutva is still very strong. We observe this
in 2019 Loksabha elections.
 To conclude, end of ideology is designed to establish the supremacy of liberal
democratic order. It is not ‘End of history’ as suggested by Francis Fukuyama, rather
the beginning of new clashes in the future (Clash of civilization by Samuel P
Huntington).

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