Write a well-organized essay of no less than 750 words (approximately 3 double-spaced typewritten pages) appraising two of the contemporary political ideologies that we have examined in the final part of our course (conservatism, Marxism, and liberalism), and relating them to contemporary sociopolitical issues. Organize your appraisal around the questions below, but submit your response as a single coherent discussion developing from an introductory paragraph with a clear thesis statement. Avoid bullet point lists or standalone point-by-point paragraphs. Make direct reference to the ideas of relevant thinkers (Wollstonecraft, Burke, Marx, Tocqueville). Quote and/or cite relevant passages from the assigned readings and at least one credible outside source to substantiate and develop your analysis.
Summarize: What are the major themes, topics, concepts, or ideas central to each ideological perspective? What do these perspectives have in common in terms of the kinds of questions they ask or problems they seek to address?
Evaluate & Analyze: Identify and appraise strengths and weaknesses of each of the ideologies you focus on in terms of interpreting or explaining the political world we live in. Consider organizing your evaluation and analysis around one or more of the following points of comparison:
The role of the individual vs. the role of the state for each perspective.
Differences in definitions of terms, e.g. liberty, justice, etc. For example, do your chosen ideologies emphasize positive liberty, negative liberty, or something else? What is the moral basis for defining liberty in that way?
Differences between the economic systems most compatible with each perspective, and relevance of those differences for explaining human nature.
Reflect and Apply: Which of these three political ideologies do you identify most closely with? Why? How might this ideology inform or shape the way that you approach your own political decision-making? Consider how your position on a recent contentious political issue is related to positions advanced by thinkers from a given ideological tradition; support this part of your discussion by referencing at least one credible source that describes or discusses the contentious political issue.
