A political ideology represents a set of beliefs and values about the best form of government and the role of citizens within it, while a political theory examines and critiques how politics operates, often through a philosophical lens. Ideologies, such as liberalism or conservatism, provide frameworks for understanding political behavior, whereas theories explore the processes that define political systems and can offer justifications for governmental actions. The two concepts interact: theories can emerge from questioning ideologies and explore their practical implications.