Western political philosophy emphasizes democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. It originated in ancient Greece and has been shaped by historical influences such as the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. It advocates for fair and equitable elections and the defense of human rights, while balancing protections for minority views. It also informs economic systems, often complementing capitalism.
Political philosophy contains two major disciplines: politics and philosophy. While politics might generally be understood as the process of formal decision making, philosophy consists of the knowledge and values that inform problem solving and decision making. Common topics of interest in political philosophy include the function of government, the development of a legal code for justice, and human rights issues such as liberty. Western political philosophy is a particular approach to these problems largely shaped by philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. Historical influences such as the Roman Empire, the Renaissance period and various cultural and regional revolutions have also helped consolidate many tenets of Western philosophical politics, such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
There is no precise definition for the term West, but many individuals consider Western Europe and regions largely influenced by these cultures to be Western. Thus, Western political philosophy encompasses regions ranging from France to the United States. Many of the features of this political philosophy originated in ancient Greece, where philosophers studied the rational, emotional, and ethical elements of persuasion.
Throughout history, many forms of government have arisen, and these governments typically advocate rule dictated by divine spiritual right or leadership focused on maintaining social unity. Some regions have a long tradition of limited-rule governments, such as dictatorships and one-man rule monarchies. Western political philosophy, on the other hand, advocates more democratic systems, where citizens of a region typically elect individuals to represent their interests. Ideally, in the Western system, many different individuals should compete in fair and equitable elections. As another feature of democracy, the individual or group receiving the majority of citizenry support would then assume a leadership role.
The emphasis on fairness highlights another key aspect of Western political philosophy: the defense of human rights. Western philosophies usually claim to hold liberty and freedom in high regard, so policies are often designed with these considerations in mind. Such a philosophical perspective can support measures ranging from passing equality laws to supporting regional revolutions. While Western governments often operate from a majority mindset, they also seek to balance protections for minority views and beliefs.
Practitioners of Western political philosophy must also weigh belief in certain natural human rights such as liberty against the need to apply restrictions to the behaviors of a citizenry. Various legal systems around the world address these concerns. In the Western-oriented rule of law, a government is responsible for developing established legal standards that are upheld by its people. Violators of these laws are entitled to some legal proceedings such as a prosecution. Therefore, establishing a uniform but adaptable code of conduct and providing potential offenders with a fair system of justice is crucial in this political philosophy.
Political philosophies can also inform other institutions such as the economy. For example, a Western political philosophy will often be complementary to capitalism. Some primary features of capitalism include private ownership of goods, competitive product markets, and profits derived from employee-driven labor systems and supply and demand chains. Furthermore, free trade between regions is an important feature in many Western economic systems.
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