Words Matter
A plain-language glossary for the words that shape public life.
Political Systems & Ideologies
Government structures and political philosophies that shape how power is distributed, who makes decisions, and how authority is justified. These terms are often used loosely. This section pins down their actual meanings and explains how they function in practice.
Individualism
Individualism is a value framework that emphasizes personal autonomy, self-reliance, and independent decision-making. It prioritizes the rights, freedoms, and responsibilities of individuals over the demands or claims of larger groups. Individualism shapes views about what people owe to themselves, what they owe to others, and the role of institutions in daily life.
Community
Community refers to a group of people connected by shared identity, geography, experience, or purpose. The concept emphasizes interdependence and the idea that individuals are part of larger social networks that shape their opportunities, responsibilities, and sense of belonging. Community describes both the relationships people maintain and the collective frameworks that support them.
Propaganda
Propaganda is communication designed to shape public opinion or behavior through selective information, emotional appeals, or misleading framing. Its purpose is persuasion—not balanced analysis. Propaganda can appear in state media, political campaigns, advertising, or any context where influence is prioritized over accuracy.
Structural Inequality
Structural inequality refers to patterns of unequal outcomes that are produced and sustained by social, economic, and political systems—not solely by individual actions. These inequities arise from rules, norms, and institutional practices that distribute opportunities and burdens unevenly across groups.
Representation
Representation is the principle that elected officials act on behalf of the people who choose them. It is a foundational element of democratic governance, providing a structured way for public preferences to influence policy. Representation determines who has a voice in decision-making and whose interests shape institutions.
Nationalism
The belief that a nation—a group with shared identity, culture, or history—should have political self-determination. It emphasizes loyalty to the nation above other identities. Nationalism can support independence movements, unify societies, or justify exclusion and conflict.
Sovereignty
The supreme legal and political authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. It is the foundational principle of the modern international system, defining who has the right to make laws, control territory, and represent a population.
Liberalism
A political philosophy centered on individual rights, civil liberties, the rule of law, and limits on concentrated power. While modern partisan uses of “liberal” vary widely, the underlying liberal tradition seeks to ensure that governments protect personal freedoms and remain accountable to the public.
Conservatism
A political philosophy that emphasizes preserving established institutions, traditions, and social order. It generally favors cautious, incremental change over rapid transformation. While its specific policy positions vary by country and period, its core purpose is to maintain continuity and stability in public life.
Communism
A political and economic ideology envisioning a classless society with collective ownership of the means of production. In theory, wealth and power would be distributed based on need rather than market forces or private property. In practice, regimes identifying as communist have often centralized authority in a single party-state.
Fascism
An authoritarian nationalist ideology that seeks to centralize power under a strong leader while suppressing opposition, dissent, and pluralism. Historically, fascist movements emphasize mass mobilization, militarism, mythic national unity, and the subordination of individual rights to the state.
Federalism
A constitutional arrangement in which power is divided between a national government and regional governments such as states or provinces. Each level has its own legal authority, responsibilities, and mechanisms for governance. Tension over these boundaries is a defining feature, not a flaw.
Democracy
A system of government in which political authority ultimately comes from the people. Citizens participate in selecting leaders, shaping public policy, and holding institutions accountable. Democratic systems vary widely, but they generally rely on competitive elections, rule of law, protections for dissent, and mechanisms that limit the abuse of power.