... highly flexible conceptual tool. "To some, ideology is dogmatic, while to others it carries connotations of political sophistication; to some it refers to dominant modes of thought, and to others it refers primarily to those most alienated by the status quo (ex. Revolutionary movements and parties). To some it is based in the concrete interests of a social class, while to others it is characterized by an absence of economic self interest." (John Gearing, "Ideology: A definitional Analysis", Political Research Quarterly (1997), 957-94). I could go on but the point is already apparent: not only is ideology far flung, it also encompasses a good many definitional traits which are directly at odds with one another. If one were to talk about the ideological spectrum with regards to individual and collective rights, the people fighting for individual rights would sit at the extreme left, collective rights people would sit at the ...

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