I.                Introduction.

Political ideologies vary from state, region, groups, people, and an individual to the other. The doctrines provide the blueprint for social order in society. The set of principles, institutions, ethical ideals and symbols influence the use and allocation of power. The popularity of an ideology determines the political objectives and the most appropriate methods of achieving the predetermined goals. Political ideologies consist of a set of ideas, which distinguishes between the best and the worst forms of governance and economic systems. Fine and Sandstrom (1993) note that the term political ideology is problematic, and the most elusive concept in social science discourse.

Nevertheless, ideologies identify themselves with distinctive perspectives on the political spectrum, and the political strategies, for instance, liberals and populists. There are several political ideologies. Some of the viewpoints are centuries old, while others emerged recently with the advent of technology, and the growing need to find lasting solutions to the ever-expanding contemporary challenges in governance. Some of the well-known political ideologies include socialism, progressivism, populism, identity politics, fascism, environmentalism, democracy, communism, conservativism, corporatism and anarchism (Heywood, 2017). The ideologies have influenced and continue to affect the development of theories, which attempts to explain their applications. Ranging from green political philosophy, which forms the basis of the essay, to public choice theory, democratic peace theory, elite theory, and world systems theory, the propositions help understand the existence of varying democracies across the world (Street, Inthorn, & Scott, 2015).

II.             Research questions.

The research attempts to answer several questions, which include:

1. To what extent does green political ideologies influence political movements across the world?
2. Do the majority of the voters across the world understand the ideologies of green politics?

• How does green politics affect voting patterns in world democracies?

III.           Green politics theory.

Green politics theory began in the 1970s and became popularised in the western world (Chandler and Siaroff, 1986). Premised on ecological sustainability, the proposition gained interest in grassroots democracy, social justice, nonviolence and environmentalism. In the political arena, the proponents of green politics are considered left-wingers and associated with civil liberties and progressivism (Papadakis, 2014). Besides, green ideology supports other political ideologies including Eco-socialism, ecofeminism, and Eco-anarchism. Green politics is rooted in the philosophy of some the notable ancient thinkers such as Spinoza, Rousseau, Thoreau and Gandhi, who advocated for personal responsibility in making moral choices. Organised green politicking gained prominence in the late 19^th century in the United States and Europe as a response to the industrial revolution focusing on uncontrolled economic growth and expansion (Hay and Haward, 1988). The formation of green movements and parties, especially in the United States, Netherlands, Australia, Amsterdam, and Germany won a considerable number of political seats thus giving rise to green politics.

According to the proponents of green ideologies such as Derek Wall, the political ideology has four primary pillars. The pillars include ecological wisdom, nonviolence, social justice and grassroots democracy (Torgerson, 1999). The ecological wisdom focus on natural resource management, human social interaction, conservation and sustainability of the environment, and city planning. Social justice as the second pillar of green politics theory advocates for just and fair relationships between governments, social institutions and individuals. The green politics proponents aim at achieving an equitable distribution of wealth and equal opportunities among members in the society. The concept of grassroots democracy, on the other hand, champions the designing of political processes that narrow the decision-making power to the lowest social level of the society. Politically, green theory considers the best democracy as that which vests authority in ordinary members, and the local community unlike the top down approach forms of leadership.

Moreover, grassroots politics encourage participatory systems rather than the representative system, which gives elected leaders the authority of decision making on behalf of the local communities (Eckersley, 2007). Nonviolence is the last pillar of green political theory and implies being harmless to other people, as well as self. Nonviolence strategy and philosophy disapproves the use of violence, and see civil resistance as a substitute for passive acceptance of oppression. Proponents of nonviolence approach advocate for social change using persuasion and critical forms of education, mass disobedience, civil noncooperation, and economic, cultural and sociopolitical interventions (Young, 1992). Although sometimes used interchangeably with pacifism and passivity, activists and nonviolent proponents disregard the notion based on commitment. The believers in nonviolent action see consent and cooperation to yield political and civil power. While financial institutions, bureaucratic institutions and armed institutions as well operate based on citizens’ compliance, the passive approach seeks to thwart by encouraging people to withhold their cooperation and consent. Besides the four primary cornerstones of green politics, its influence in the society prompted the adjustments of certain guiding principles such as global responsibility, decentralisation, respect for diversity, feminism and community- based economics (Stavrakakis, 1997). Green politics strongly argue in favour of the decriminalisation of victimless offences and strict law enforcement on violent crimes. Besides, the notion of thinking globally, and acting locally originated from the ideologies of green politics. Green thinking encourages participatory democracy, in which citizens play a direct role in making decisions that impacts on their lives, as well as the experience and the coexistence of their environment (Blühdorn, 2009).

IV.           Theory testing using a single case study.

In the testing of the green political theory, a single case study theory method of testing theory would be the most appropriate to use. Considering that ideologies affect types of democratic systems across the world, a single case study helps examine democratic systems (dependent variable) and green ideologies (independent variable). The nature of the testing, therefore, follows an approach of green ideologies contributes to varying democratic systems. Whereas green doctrines are adopted and used differentially by individuals since its inception, the desired outcome of a democratic political system is that based on the advocacies of the green politics proponents. The significance of using single case study testing method is that it eases the explanation of differences between variables in the value of one by comparing them to the variations of another case Eckstein (2000), thus useful in understanding the cause of varying democratic systems across the world. In other words, group ideologies have a direct impact on democratic systems such that a participatory government will not exist without the influence of green politics advocates. To succeed in testing the green political theory, the case requires necessary conditions to be present for the desired outcome to be possible, or the availability of sufficient conditions to influence the type of democracy deemed appropriate.

V.              Reasons for using a single case study.

The case makes it possible to test the theory by stipulating seven steps to be followed (Yin, 2011). The first critical stage is the formulation of a hypothetical statement to be verified. In this case, the claim that green politics ideologies affect democratic systems in the world would undergo the test to establish the truth of the application (George and Bennett, 2005). The second step is selecting an appropriate case, which for green politics theory testing, the single case study works best. The third procedure is the specification of a hypothesis, for instances, if the majority of the voters consider green politics ideologies a pivotal mechanism to uplift their sociopolitical and economic welfare, then they will vote majority from green parties (George and Bennett, 2005). The fourth step is measuring the relevant variables, both the independent and the dependent variables. Green politics ideologies and democratic systems across the world form the core variables under analysis. The fifth step is testing the hypothesis. To achieve the objective of the test require a comparison between the expected and the observed patterns regarding green politics ideologies and the democracies in which the proponents of the theory have an outstanding influence (George and Bennett, 2005). The second last requirement is the formulation of the test results to either confirm or disconfirm the hypothesis. Lastly, comparing the outcome with other tests performed on the green politics theory by others to determine implications (George and Bennett, 2005).

VI.           Limitations of the use of a single case study in testing the theory.

The single case study has demerits in the form of interrelated aspects of subjectivity, methodological rigour, and external validity (Meyer, 2015). The prototypical assertion is that the use of case study absolves the testing of the theory from other kinds of methodological applications. Secondly is the issue of construct validity, which deals with replicability and reliability of other cases tested by other researchers. Besides, the case study contains an extreme bias towards falsification of propositions preconceived for verification of the claims made. The third limitation of a single case study is generalizability. This is because an exact degree of uncertainty regarding the desired outcome of the theory is lacking (Meyer, 2015). In the case of green political philosophy, it would be necessary to research each democratic system to discover different outcomes than generalising on the grounds of political ideologies and previous theoretical tests.

VII.         Fundamental propositions in the single case study.

In the green political theory, the test will focus on the democratic systems under the influence of green politics principles. Basing on propositions such as participatory leadership, nonviolence, ecological wisdom, fairness and justice as primary elements of progressive democracy, the single case study will help determine how the ideologies affect democratic systems.

VIII.      Processes linking dependent and independent variables.

IX.           Types of evidence required.

Successful testing of the theory require information gathered about the involvement in crucial decision-making processes by the locals, both at national and grassroots level, an evidence just and fairness in resource allocation, employment opportunities, access to justice by every individual in the society regardless of political, social and economic status, ecological sustainability and political tolerance (Rowley, 2002).

X.              Sources of information.

There are two main sources of information; secondary sources and primary sources (Hox and Boeije, 2005). While primary sources of gathering information about green politics may be costly and time-consuming, it will provide reliable information, especially when it involves interviewing the proponents and the believers in the political ideology (Glass, 1976). This is because green politics is widespread although it started a long time ago in the 1970s. Secondary sources including government databases, political parties and associations manifestos, legislative reports, journals and books (Heaton, 2008) are instrumental in discovering the extent to which green politics has influenced different forms of democracies in the world. Besides, interviewing members of green party movements and political parties would determine whether they fully understand, and practice the suppositions brought forth by the green politics proponents.

Most of the secondary sources are available on the internet, and database of various governments, political parties and global movements and associations that support green politics. Similarly, notable political scientists about green politics as well as the origin, expansion and establishment of green politics ideologies have written much. The review of the literature will make access to the sources easy and time-saving.

Conclusion.

In summary, the study applies a single case study to test green politics theory to determine the influence of political ideologies of forms of democracy. Based on a belief that ideologies influence groupings and groups affect voting patterns, green politics change democratic systems with and voter preference.

References.

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