ABSTRACT
The three main arguments of this chapter are, first: the time-honoured left-right dichotomy is no longer useful for classification purposes although it is still highly useful for polemical purposes in contemporary ideological diatribes. Second, a more useful distinction is in terms of attitudes to democracy, as an idea not an ideology. Third, the lingering positivist concept of ideologies being immune to rational argument and refutation will be challenged. The refutation of this positivist position and the dubious arguments in its favour will lead to its replacement with a more Popperian position and this in turn involves the major meta-theoretical thesis of this book.
