Ideology: A proposal for a conceptual typology

Abstract

The concept of ideology is increasingly popular within social science in general, and within political science in particular. With more than 30 different attributes frequently associated with the term, ‘ideology’ is, however, also highly complex and ‘overloaded with definitional baggage’ (Gerring). Building on previous efforts to present minimal definitions, the main purpose of this article is to offer a proposal for a conceptual typology of ideology. First, the previously introduced authoritative minimal definition by Gerring is discussed and somewhat expanded. Second, a number of subtypes of this general concept are identified. Third, the possible interactions between ideologies at different levels are briefly reviewed. The article thus seeks to further increase the definitional clarity and, above all, empirical utility of the concept of ideology.