Other ideologies optional routes Key Terms

National identity

The shared sense of belonging to a nation, often expressed through language, culture, history and values.

Devolution

The statutory delegation of powers from a central government to sub‑national or regional authorities.

National Identity

The sense of a shared belonging to a nation, which may be constructed through language, culture, history, or political ideology.

Devolution

The statutory delegation of powers from the central government to regional or local authorities, a key feature of the UK’s constitutional arrangement.

Minority Nationalism

A nationalist movement that originates from a distinct group within a state, seeking greater autonomy or independence based on ethnic, linguistic or cultural identity.

State Nationalism

A nationalist ideology that emphasizes the unity and sovereignty of the entire state, often prioritising a shared national identity over regional or ethnic differences.

General Will

The collective interest of the people, representing the common good rather than the interests of a majority.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the people are the ultimate source of political authority and that legitimate governance must reflect the collective will.

Herderian nationalism

A nationalist ideology that emphasises language, cultural traditions, and the organic development of a people’s spirit as the core of national identity.

Patriotism (Herder)

An affection for one’s nation that arises from shared cultural practices, language, and a collective spirit, distinct from loyalty to a political state.

Republicanism

A political ideology that promotes a republic, emphasizing citizen participation, the rule of law, and the common good over hereditary rule.

Civic Nationalism

A form of nationalism that defines national belonging in terms of shared civic values, citizenship and participation rather than ethnicity.

Nationalism

A political ideology that prioritises the interests, culture, and self‑determination of a particular nation or group.

Pan‑Africanism

An ideology that promotes solidarity and unity among all people of African descent, regardless of national borders.

Integral Nationalism

A nationalist ideology that seeks to unify all aspects of society under a single, indivisible national identity, typically linked to a hereditary monarchy.

Anti‑France Doctrine

Maurras’s critique of the French Republic, claiming that republican institutions erode national identity and moral values.

Liberal Feminism

A strand of feminism that advocates for gender equality through legal reforms and policy changes within the existing political and economic structures.

Radical Feminism

A feminist perspective that views patriarchy as a pervasive, systemic problem requiring fundamental societal transformation rather than incremental legal adjustments.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, and control over property.

Intersectionality

The analytical concept that multiple social identities intersect to create unique experiences of privilege and oppression.

Equal Treatment

The requirement that all individuals, regardless of gender, receive the same legal and social opportunities and are not discriminated against.

Affirmative Action

Strategic measures designed to increase representation of historically disadvantaged groups, such as women, in education, employment, and other areas.

Difference Feminism

A feminist perspective that recognises and values gendered differences, arguing that these differences can be a source of empowerment rather than oppression.

Intersectionality

A theoretical framework that examines how overlapping social identities (e.g., gender, race, class) interact to produce unique experiences of privilege and disadvantage.

Reform Darwinism

An application of Darwinian evolutionary principles to social reform, suggesting that societies can progress towards equality through conscious change rather than natural selection.

Androcentric culture

A cultural paradigm that centres male experiences and perspectives, often marginalising or excluding women’s roles and contributions.

Existentialism

A philosophical framework that prioritises individual freedom, choice, and authenticity, positing that people create their own meaning through actions.

Patriarchy

A societal structure in which men dominate political, economic, and social institutions, often marginalising women and other groups.

Sexual Politics

The idea that sexual relations are a political arena where gendered power is enacted and contested.

Radical Feminism

A feminist ideology that seeks to fundamentally transform societal structures to eliminate patriarchy.