What is human nature? How far should state power extend? What makes a society just? What is the best way to organize economic life? This well-written and interesting text explores the ideas that have dominated political thought worldwide and examines how they are interpreted and reinterpreted within the framework of the most important ideological traditions. Covering both the so-called "basic" ideologies of liberalism, conservatism, and socialism, as well as "other" ideologies such as anarchism, nationalism, feminism, environmentalism, and multiculturalism, "Basic Political Ideas" provides information about their history and evolution, their key themes and internal divisions, as well as their impact on contemporary political behavior, movements, parties, and governments.