Day 1: What is Politics? What is Ideology?

Glossary / शब्दकोश

What is Politics?

Politics (राजनीति, Rajniti) comes from the Greek word polis, meaning "city-state." At its core, politics is about who gets what, when, and how — meaning who holds power, how decisions are made for a community, and how resources and rights are distributed.

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle called man a "political animal" — meaning humans are naturally inclined to live in organized communities and create systems of governance.

In Nepal, politics has deep roots. The word Rajniti literally means "the ethics/policy of kings" — Raja (king) + Niti (policy/ethics). This reflects how historically, politics was seen as the domain of the ruler.

What is an Ideology?

An ideology (विचारधारा, Vichaardhara) is a system of ideas and values that shapes how people think society should be organized. It answers fundamental questions like:

Who should hold power?
How should wealth be distributed?
What role should religion play in government?
Should people be equal? In what ways?
What is the relationship between the individual and the state? Different answers to these questions give rise to different ideologies — communism, democracy, monarchy, socialism, fascism, and more.

Why Does Ideology Matter?

Ideology matters because it drives action. Wars have been fought over ideological differences. Nepal's 10-year Maoist insurgency (1996–2006) was driven by Maoist ideology. The fall of the Rana regime was driven by democratic and socialist ideology imported by leaders like BP Koirala from India.

Understanding ideology is understanding why people fight for what they fight for.

The Major Political Ideologies at a Glance

The Political Spectrum

Ideologies are often placed on a left-right spectrum:

Left = tends toward equality, collective ownership, state intervention
Right = tends toward tradition, private ownership, limited government
Center = blend of both, pragmatic governance In Nepal today, the major parties span this spectrum:
CPN-UML — Communist Party, Left
CPN (Maoist Centre) — Far Left origins, now center-left in practice
Nepali Congress — Social Democratic, Center-Left
Rastriya Swatantra Party — Liberal, Center

Discussion Questions for Further Study

Why do you think Nepal's political parties are mostly on the left of the spectrum compared to, say, the USA?
How does the word Rajniti (ethics of kings) reflect Nepal's historical relationship with monarchy?
Can a country have elements of multiple ideologies at the same time? Give examples from Nepal.

Daily Quiz

Q1: What specifically distinguishes a "political" ideology from a general ideology?

A) It focuses on the distribution of power, the legitimacy of authority, and the organization of governance. ✓
B) It is a collection of random and isolated personal opinions about current events.
C) It refers exclusively to cultural or religious beliefs and avoids economic systems.
D) It is a neutral, scientific study focused entirely on how humans form ideas.

Answer: A. Political ideology specifically addresses political organization, power relations, and social justice.

Q2: The term "ideology" was originally coined in 1796 by Antoine Destutt de Tracy to represent which of the following?

A) The "science of ideas." ✓
B) A tool for political propaganda.
C) The study of the state and kings.
D) A system of religious doctrines.

Answer: A. Derived from the Greek words for 'idea' and 'study,' the term originally meant the philosophical study of the origin of ideas.

Q3: How do the "descriptive" and "prescriptive" dimensions of an ideology interact to shape public policy?

A) The descriptive function analyzes current social realities, while the prescriptive function offers a vision for how society should be organized. ✓
B) The descriptive function lists historical facts, while the prescriptive function is used only by voters.
C) The descriptive function is purely objective, while the prescriptive function is only used in authoritarian regimes.
D) The descriptive function focuses on international law, while the prescriptive function focuses on personal ethics.

Answer: A. This dual nature allows an ideology to both provide an analytical lens for existing power structures and a blueprint for future goals.

Q4: In the standard "left-right" political spectrum, which statement best summarizes the fundamental difference regarding the power of government?

A) The left generally favors government intervention to achieve social equality, while the right favors limited government to promote individual freedom. ✓
B) The left advocates for the maintenance of the status quo, while the right advocates for immediate revolution.
C) The left believes in the "philosophy of imperfection," while the right believes in maximum government potential.
D) The left focuses exclusively on preserving traditional institutions, while the right focuses on abolishing all forms of political authority.

Answer: A. This captures the core debate on the spectrum regarding the balance between collective state action and individual autonomy.

Q5: When comparing the "Big Three" schools of feminist thought, which tradition calls for a radical reordering of society to eliminate patriarchy?

A) Radical feminism ✓
B) Liberal feminism
C) Socialist/Marxist feminism
D) Intersectional feminism

Answer: A. Radical feminism aims to eliminate the patriarchal prioritization of the male point of view.

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Day 1 of 77 in the Political Science series