What is an ideology according to social science?

In social science, an ideology is best understood as a set of beliefs about societal structure. This incorporates the various ways in which individuals and groups interpret and understand how society operates, including views on power, governance, social norms, and the role of individuals within a community. Ideologies help shape the framework through which social phenomena are analyzed, influencing everything from political theories to cultural practices.

This understanding highlights how ideologies serve as comprehensive systems of thought that encapsulate not just personal beliefs but broader societal principles. They define how groups envision justice, equality, and order in their social environments, providing a lens through which issues of identity, culture, and ethnicity are examined.

While a shared perspective on personal beliefs might touch on individual viewpoints, it does not fully encompass the broader societal context and implications that an ideology entails. Similarly, a group of individual opinions on politics may involve diverse thoughts that do not coalesce into a unified ideological framework. Finally, the notion of a doctrine that should not change over time inaccurately suggests rigidity, while ideologies can evolve and adapt as societies develop and change over time. Thus, the most accurate characterization of ideology aligns with the understanding of it as a set of beliefs about the functioning and structure of society.