Several assumptions about ideology underpin the discussion that follows. Ideology is here viewed as one aspect of politics; and so to understand the political we must grasp the significance of ideology to it.¹ This significance may vary according to historical context, political system, leadership, level of economic development, issue and situation. I do not assume that ideology is either constantly shaped by, or reducible to, external determinants, but rather that ideology interacts with other factors. Thus ideology can inspire policy, be ignored by policy, be seriously modified itself by policy or serve to qualify policy. Its impact on society is not constant over time and neither is its role necessarily homogeneous across issues.