Ideologies are systems of ideas and ideals that form the basis of economic or political theory and policy. Although not all politicians fall neatly into the main schools of thought when it comes to political ideologies, the following are some of the most common and seminal ideologies present in society today, and they are also representative of the typical spectrum of political thought.

Socialism

Adherents believe that the cause of poverty, low wages, unemployment, economic and social inequality, as well as a lack of economic security, have their roots in the social effects of private ownership and control of capital. Thus, they see a form of collective control over the means of production, distribution and exchange as a solution to the aforementioned problems.
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Liberal Democracy

This is also known as constitutional democracy. Cornerstones of this ideology are that elections should be free and fair, and the political process must be competitive. It also upholds political pluralism, which is the presence of multiple and distinct political parties. Liberal democracy also believes in the free market, trade liberalization, and free capitalist enterprise.
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Social Democracy

This ideology relies on the use of the democratic process to achieve its aims as opposed to revolutionary means. In terms of modern social democracy, one view calls for the reformation of capitalism to align it with the ethical ideals of social justice while maintaining the capitalist mode of production rather than creating an alternative socialist economic system.
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Conservatism

It is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism and seek a return to the way things were.
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Libertarianism

Libertarianism is a term describing philosophies which emphasize freedom, individual liberty, voluntary association and respect of property rights. Based on these, libertarians advocate a society with small or no government power. Common libertarian advocacies include the relaxation of control on gun rights and marijuana rights.