Liberal feminism

Individualist rights-based feminist theory. Women suffer principally because of the denial of their rights as individuals. The solution to their unequal treatment is the creation of true equality of rights, which is likely to be achieved by rational persuasion. Source: Z R Eisenstein, ed., The Radical Future of Liberal Feminism (New York, 1981) Philosophy Inherently pragmatic, liberal feminism

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Liberalism

A broad body of political theory based on the significance of the individual. Individuals are to enjoy liberty, including the liberty to own and produce wealth, to conduct themselves in private as they please, and to associate with others and publish and discuss opinions in public as freely as is consistent with the avoidance

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Libertarianism

In political theory, an extreme form of liberalism. Individuals are free to pursue their own interest sunqualified by any conception of public interest or public duty. The individual is the best and only judge of his or her own interests, and government and law should do no more than provide a minimal framework of order

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Logic of collective action (20TH CENTURY)

Theory of the operation of political groups described by American political scientist Mancur Olson (1932-1998). Rational calculation of self interest will lead people to ‘free ride’. Workers will enjoy a pay raise negotiated by a union whether they are members of it or not, and so need extra incentives if they are to be active supporters

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Machiavellianism

Pejorative term to describe beliefs or conduct allegedly derived from the views of Italian political theorist Niccolo Machiavelli (1429-1527). The end justifies the means, and moral considerations should be subordinated to the achievement of material or political goals. Used in this way, the term is a parody of the views actually expressed by Machiavelli. Source: David Miller,

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Managerialism (20TH CENTURY)

Ideology of organizational power. Organizations, both public and private, are best run when power is exercised hierarchically by managers who are distinct from the producers of goods or the providers of services, but have general power to dispose of the organization’s resources. Managerialism is thus a late 20th-century flexible mutation from the theory of bureaucracy, and is

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Managerial revolution (20TH CENTURY)

Theory associated with James Burnham (1905-1981). The characteristic feature of modern industrial societies is the rise of managers as the effective wielders of power, particularly in the economy. In capitalist societies this means that owners or capitalists are losing power; in state socialist or communist societies, that politicians or the working class are losing it. Source: James Burnham,

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Maoism (20TH CENTURY)

Theory of politics of Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-Tung) (1893-1976). Adaption of Marxism and Stalinism to the conditions of China, in particular to guerrilla war in largely peasant societies. It attempts to combine traditional Marxism with respect for the people and their ideas, as well as to abolish the profit motive in favor of moral incentives. Source: David Miller et al., eds, The

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Market socialism (20TH CENTURY)

Advocacy of markets as an element of socialism. Markets are effective ways of distributing goods and services, and responding to actual wants. But they are not neutral, and the results they give depend upon the structure of laws and the distribution of wealth within which they operate. Appropriate legal and economic structures can make markets

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Marxist feminism (20TH CENTURY)

Development of Marxism to add gender division to class conflict. The class analysis of Marxism is inadequate rather than incorrect. It needs to be complemented by an understanding of the divisions, particularly in the household, of work and the control over work along lines of gender. Source: N O Keohane et al., eds, Feminist Theory (Brighton,

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Master race (20TH CENTURY)

Version of racism associated with the German Nazi Party. An extreme development of social Darwinism, the theory argued that northern Europeans were superior to other races, and constituted a ‘natural’ dominant race. The theory was employed to justify mass murder. Source: J Barzun, Race: A Study in Superstition (New York, 1965) Historical background[edit] Early attempts to claim

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Meritocracy (1958)

Mixture of social prediction and description of English sociologist and writer Michael Young (1915-2002). Social power, and particularly economic power, will in the future be held by those selected on the basis of measurable merit. In a society nominally egalitarian, these meritocrats will enjoy higher standards of living than their fellows by the manipulations of

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Millenarianism

Theory of apocalyptic transformation based on prophecy contained in Revelations. Millenarian theories share an expectation of some transforming change: either the coming of the Kingdom of God, or the just society, or harmony amongst peoples. They differ in almost every other respect. Source: Norman Cohn, The Pursuit of the Millennium (London, 1970) Terminology[edit] The

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Modernization (20TH CENTURY)

Theory of rational progress. ‘Modern’ societies are characterized by the rational use of scientific techniques, and by the application of reason to meet the common interests of all. Critics have argued that there are neither common problems nor common solutions, and that we have already entered a world better understood by post-modernism. Source: Allan Bullock, Oliver Stallybrass,

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Mood theory (20TH CENTURY)

Concept in study of public opinion. For the body of public opinion there are ‘moods’ which are not necessarily rationally derived, and are responses to other events or influences rather than spontaneous expressions of any coherent view. Source: Graham Evans and Jeffrey Newnham, The Dictionary of World Politics (Hemel Hempstead, 1990) In psychology, a mood is an affective state.

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Multilateralism (20TH CENTURY)

A theory of (nuclear) disarmament in opposition to unilateralism, this argues that nuclear disarmament can only be achieved by negotiated mutual reductions in weapons by all states. Source: David Robertson, The Penguin Dictionary of Politics (London, 1986) Definitions Multilateralism, in the form of membership in international institutions, serves to bind powerful nations, discourage unilateralism, and gives

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Mutual aid (19TH CENTURY)

Theory of beneficient anarchism described by Russian anarchist Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921). Mutual assistance amongst members of the same species is as natural as competition. The species – and by implication the societies – that have prospered and will prosper are those characterized by such voluntary support amongst their members rather than by conflict or competition. Source: David Miller,

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Mutually assured destruction (MAD) (20TH CENTURY)

Theory of security through nuclear weaponry. Since each state has enough nuclear weapons to destroy the other even if attacked first, any state beginning a nuclear war will cause the destruction of both itself and its opponent. This will deter it from so doing. Also see: balance of terror, deterrence Source: Graham Evans and Jeffrey Newnham,

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Myth

Theory of the function of beliefs. Stories about the destiny of nations, races, classes, or political groups have an important function which is quite independent of their truthfulness. The belief in some ultimate goal gives purpose; and the belief in some (mythical) identity as a race, a chosen political order, or a special nation

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Nationalism

Theory of the nation as the basis for government. People are identified as members of historically and culturally distinct nations. The frontiers of states and the frontiers of nations should coincide; and where they do not, government should be divided or reorganized in order to achieve this. Source: David Miller et al., eds, The

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