Ideology should be a sign that a person has thought things through. It ought to mean they have a philosophy of what makes a good society and a coherent way of getting there. Sadly, the word has been dragged through the gutter by people who treat ideology as a football scarf. Tribal colours, chanted slogans, and no interest in questioning whether the team has already lost.
Politicians often insist they are “pragmatists” rather than “ideologues.” It sounds reassuring. No wild schemes. No extremism. Yet scratch the surface and you find the same old prejudices dressed up as common sense. They are not free of ideology. They just deny having one so they never have to justify it.
Dogma is what gives ideology its bad reputation. Dogma demands obedience. It punishes curiosity. It tells you that the leader is always right and the critics are traitors. That is how you end up with disastrous policies defended long after the wreckage is obvious; Brexit being Exhibit A. A proper ideology would look at the evidence, see the damage, and adjust course. Dogma simply shouts louder.
So ideology is not the enemy. Unquestioning loyalty is. Ideology says, “Here is what I believe, tell me if I’m wrong.” Dogma says, “Here is what I believe, and if you disagree, there is something wrong with you.”
Ideology should be a sign of a mind in motion. Dogma is the sign of a mind closed for business.
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