In my opinion this system has room for improvement in regards to making it more intuitive to players. This is because some of the options are not ideologies. For example innovation and compassion are not ideologies, they are traits/attributes. Also, while the stats might make it somewhat clear why a trait is exclusive to an ideology, it's name does not. For example, I think the majority of players will look at the name 'Prestige' before looking at its stats and wonder why it's exclusive to the 'Authority' ideology.
Also, I think we're going to have to iterate on which options go where. For example currently you can't choose both influence and research. Are you sure you want to make these mutually exclusive? Could the player have the choice of focusing on e.g. influence and research at the expense of military?
Are you open to adding more ideology spectrums into the game? For example:
Oligarchic vs Theocratic vs Technocratic vs Monarchic/Imperial
How about an option to be non-ideological with choices that focus on reason, logic and rationality? Maybe there are some species that are simply incapable of being ideological? These species could be locked out of ideological options but have some fun, interesting and competitive non-ideological options.
Below I've made some changes to some of the ideology names and some of the trait names in an attempt to make them more intuitive to the player. I know you're probably going to cringe at the names I've chosen, I'm no expert at this, but hopefully these changes make enough sense to illustrate my point. I have no doubt that you guys will come up with better names 
Liberty vs Authority Decentralization vs Centralization
Liberty Decentralization:
- Self-Governance- +10% Approval on colonies
- Mobility Rights- +2 Starbase Range
- Free Trade- Grants a free freighter and Trader citizen
- Free Markets- +10% Income
- Private Ownership- Starbases no longer pay maintenance
- Enterprise- -25% Colony and Asteroid decay
Authority Centralization:
- Iron Fist - +10 Control
Prestige War games - Double Ship ExperienceService Favors/bribes/political kickbacks - Soldiers generate approval- Discipline- Can rush multiple times a turn
- Watchful- Fleets inside our borders receive an escort fighter
Threatening Conscription - 3 free transports- Dangerous- Transports get escort fighters
Opportunity vs Equality Equal Opportunity vs Equality of Outcome
Opportunity Equal opportunity:
- · Ambition- Leaders cost less to hire
- · Recruiting- Reduced cooldown to recruit leaders
- · Incentives- +10 Loyalty for Leaders
- Celebrate Talent- +5% Approval for X turns after recruiting a Leader
-
Ruling Class Merit - Leaders cost even less to hire
-
Poaching Compelling offer - When you capture a Core World you also get their governor
Equality Equality of Outcome:
- · Commune- +15% Growth
-
Representation Diversity hires - +10% Approval for Colonists
- Generational Homes- +2 Population capacity
-
Shared Purpose Directed purpose - +1 citizens Resolve
-
Happy Workers Workers Party - Planets with over 50% Approval get +10% Manufacturing
-
Hope Expectation - Planets with over 50% Approval get +10% Income
Tradition vs Innovation Cultural Exceptionalism/ vs Innovation
Tradition Cultural Exceptionalism:
- ·
Sacred History Devotion - +50% Homeworld Influence
-
Devotion Dogma - +10% Approval for Cleric citizens
-
Code of Law Bureaucratic State - Adds an additional Policy slot
-
Alluring Propaganda - All Starbases generate influence
-
Radiant Narrative Control - +10% Influence
- Lorekeepers- Gain 3 free Cleric citizens
-
Dogma Indoctrination - Immune to Culture Flipping
Innovation- Research:
- · Eureka- +5% Approval for X turns after discovering a new Tech
- Deep Research- +3 research when surveying an anomaly
- Focus on Education- Gain 3 free Scientist citizens
- Breakthrough- +150 Research
- Logic- +1 citizen Intelligence
-
Revere Respect Science- +10% Approval for Scientist citizens
- Quantum Leap- +10% Research
Compassion vs Cruelty Pragmatism
Compassion:
- Kindness- Approval bonus based on the players Compassion awareness
- Charity- -10% Crime
Caregiver Sustainability - -10% Pollution- Humility - +2 Diplomacy
- Favored - Anyone at war with us suffers a 10% Approval Penalty
- Popular - Factions that declare war on us anger other civs
- Consensus - All civilizations declare war on anyone who invades our homeworld
Cruelty Pragmatism:
- Intimidating - +5 Intimidation
Callous Disregard Pragmatic - +10% Manufacturing, -2% Approval- Military
Reverence Hawks - +3 Soldiers, Warforged Favor
Ruthless Military focus - +20% Soldiering- Attrition- -25% hit points for enemy ships in our borders
Bloodthirsty War machine - +1% Approval per conquered planet
Transparency vs Secrecy
Transparency:
- Amiable- +1 Diplomacy
- Negotiators- +1 Diplomatic Capital per turn
- Shrewd- +25% Credits in Trade
- Trustworthy- +1 citizen Social
- Fair Traders- +2 Diplomacy with civilizations we have trade routes with
- Reliable- Other races will trade more favourably with us
Secrecy:
- Silver Tongue - +5 Deception
- Criminal Ties- Ally with the Pirates
- Darkness - Enemy ships in our borders are -1 to Sensor Range and Moves
- Paranoia - All of our Leaders are Paranoid (lol, so in practice what does this actually mean? What are the in-game consequences of this?)
- Crime Lords- 3 free Diplomat leaders and +3% global crime
- Hidden Agenda- No one will declare war on us for the next 50 turns
Diversity vs Harmony Cultural integration vs Indigenous Culture
Diversity Cultural integration:
- Flexible- +2% to Income, Research and Manufacturing
- Inviting- 3 free random species citizens on your homeworld
- Adaptable- Gain 2 tiles on every planet
- Cultural Appreciation- +20% Tourism
- Acceptance- No Approval penalty for mixed species
- Enticing - All planets and starbases within our influence join us (this is going to be a very difficult choice to resist taking lol)
Harmony Indigenous Culture:
- Unification- +15% Approval to your homeworld
- Shared
Belief Values - +20% Resistance
- Preferred Culture - +10% Approval for our civ species, -5% approval for other species
- Unique Voice - Civilizations that declare war on us anger other civilizations
Core of the Empire Heart of the civilization - +30% Manufacturing on our homeworldCrown of the Empire Jewel of the Civilization - +30% Income on our homeworld
