First, ideas determine how political elites define themselves and the objectives they pursue – money, honor, status, longevity in power, or simply a place in history. These questions of identity are central to how they choose to act.
观念决定着利益，方式有三。首先，观念决定了政治精英如何定义自己和他们所追求的目标——金钱、荣誉、地位、掌权时限，或仅仅是青史留名。这类身份问题是他们选择如何行动的关键。