CHAPTER TWO
Utopias, Theories, and Ideologies

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Fiction writers, political actors, political theorists, and ideologues commonly invoke images of utopia as a tool to communicate their views about politics. A utopia can be an effective device because, by pushing an idealized vision to its conceptual extreme, it can clearly project specific details of a better world—it may, in fact, expose the dangers of that world. Many people from many different professions have contributed to our understanding of politics. Those we can identify as political theorists use utopias to explore what is possible and what is impossible within the realm of politics. Some of these theorists are realists, and others are idealists. Political theories differ from ideologies in a number of ways. Those who promote an ideology advocate specific programs that are meant to achieve their utopia. Students should learn two very important lessons from this chapter. First, a general understanding of theory and ideology can help you to make sense of your own political opinions and to better understand other’s views and political aims. Second, to be considered a great political theorist, you must have been dead for at least a century.

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