C/P/67. Does ideology still play an important role in contemporary politics?

This work looks at the role of ideology in contemporary world politics. It traces the decline of ideological impact in politics since the 1950s in advanced Western nations, from Bell's "End of Ideology" thesis, through the work of Fukuyama, to the current vogue of postmodern thinking. It suggests that, contrary to such authors' perceptions of such a decline over the last half-century, ideology has found a new role in contemporary politics. This is especially true regarding the anti-globalization movement and is evidenced by the resurgence of feminism and the development of Green thought. Ideology, though, is used more eclectically now than in the period before 1950.