What is ideology?

Students' answers may vary.
Ideology is a specific set of beliefs for making sense of issues and actions; a consistent pattern of opinion used to justify political behavior.Sometimes, we use this term to refer simply to coherent and consistent ways of seeing what's valuable and worthwhile and how to achieve it.Today the term also has a more negative connotation, as being "ideological" is often seen as adhering to rigid and intolerant dogmas that ignore facts and enforce conformity.In political history, ideologies have often taken root in social and economic groups that forge broad political goals.