🗳️ How we think about society
Did you know that a country’s decisions depend a lot on the ideas its leaders believe in? These ideas are called political ideologies and they mark the way a society is organized. Today we are going to discover the main ideologies that have influenced history… and Fidel Castro’s life!
💡 What is a political ideology?
A political ideology is a set of ideas about how a country should function. It includes views on:
- The role of government.
- The economy.
- The rights of individuals.
- The organization of society.
Each ideology proposes different solutions to social and economic problems.
📊 Comparing ideologies: how do they differ?
| Ideology | Key principles | Historical example |
|---|---|---|
| Liberalism | Individual liberty, free market, less state control | Civil rights movement 🇺🇸 |
| Conservatism | Tradition, order, slow change | Defense of the traditional family 👨👩👧👦 |
| Socialism | Social equality, public services, state intervention | Nordic countries such as Sweden 🇸🇪 |
| Communism | Collective ownership, elimination of social classes | Russian Revolution of 1917 🇷🇺 |
| Nationalism | Cultural identity, defense of the nation | Catalan independence movement 🇪🇸 |
🤔 Did you know…? Some ideologies seek to protect individual freedom, while others prioritize equality or cultural identity. There is no single way of looking at the political world.
🚩 Fidel Castro and his political ideas
Fidel Castro was influenced by several of these ideologies, especially:
- Socialism: He believed that the state should guarantee equality by eliminating the great differences between rich and poor.
- Communism: He dreamed of a classless society, where everyone would share resources.
- Marxism-Leninism: Applied ideas of Karl Marx and Lenin to promote a revolution in Cuba.
In addition, the Soviet Union supported Castro during the Cold War, reinforcing his communist policies.
✨ “Each one should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
(Philippians 2:4)
This biblical verse reminds us of the importance of balance between personal and collective well-being, something that many ideologies sought, although they did not always succeed in applying it correctly.
🎬 Watch this video to learn more
🔗 Political Ideology: What is Ideology?
💭 Your mind in action
💬 Reflect:
- Why do you think there are different ways of thinking about how a country should be governed?
- Do all ideologies have equal respect for freedom and human rights?
- What advantages and disadvantages do you see in seeking total equality as in communism?
- How does a country’s culture and history influence its political ideology?
🧠 Your turn:
Write in a few lines which ideology you think you agree with the most and why, always remembering to value respect, justice and human dignity.
🔍 Want to know more?
Other topics you may want to research:
- What is Marxism-Leninism?
- The Cold War and its impact on Latin America.
- Differences between socialism and communism.
- What is the welfare state?
🎯 Show what you know
Choose one or more activities to embody your learning:
- 📝 Write: Make a comparative summary between liberalism, socialism and communism.
- 🧑💻 Create: Design an infographic where you explain with icons and colors the main political ideologies.
- 🎤 Expose: Record a short audio explaining how communist ideas influenced Fidel Castro’s government.
- 📸 Document: Create a small digital mural (it can be in Canva or similar) where you gather images that represent each ideology.
- 🥼 Do: Research current news where debates about political ideologies are mentioned and present two examples of how they continue to influence today.
You can include this lesson in the school portfolio if the student completes activities from "Your mind in action", "Want to know more?", or "Show what you know", and keeps evidence of the work done (photos, writings, recordings, etc.).
🎁 In addition, if you are a subscriber, you can evaluate and grade this lesson using the downloadable guide available in your account.
