The Complex Course of Ideological Change

Ideologies are somewhat coherent, rather comprehensive belief systems about social relations, each such system having cognitive, moral, programmatic, and solidary aspects. Such belief systems have played a critical role in determining the nature of the economic order and the size of government, among other things, but scholars have yet to formulate a convincing account of how and why ideological change occurs. In this article, the author discusses some important aspects of ideology and ideological change, indicates how certain notable thinkers have tried to account for such change, and suggests how we might think more productively about some open questions that invite further research.