Political spectrum

A political spectrum is a way of comparing or visualizing different political positions, by placing them upon one or more geometric axes.

Left and Right

See main article Left-Right politics

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In modern Western countries, the political spectrum usually is described along left-right lines. This traditional political spectrum is defined along an axis with conservatism, theocracy, and fascism ("the Right") on one end, and socialism, communism, ("the Left") on the other. National and cultural differences in the use of the terms left and right are common. In Europe (excluding Britain) liberalism is generally assigned to the center-right, and the European liberal parties are primarily free market liberals. In North America, liberal refers almost exclusively to new liberalism or social liberalism, and is generally assigned to the center-left (see Liberalism in America). However, the right in the United States, which self-identifies as 'conservative', is heavily influenced by classical European liberalism, especially the emphasis in classic British liberalism on the rights of the individual versus the state. Hostility toward the U.S. federal government, as a perceived threat to individual liberty, is found among both "liberals" and "conservatives".

Related Topics:
Left - Right - Conservatism - Theocracy - Fascism - Socialism - Communism - Liberalism - Free market - New liberalism - Liberalism in America - British liberalism - State

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Similarly, in China, left and right have referred to different positions at different times, although the issues were often very different from those in Western nations.

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Multiplicity of interpretation of the left-right axis

There are various different opinions about what is actually being measured along this axis, and lines often blur among parties. For more detail see the main article Left-Right politics:

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• Equal outcomes (left) versus consistent processes (right).
• Redistribution of wealth and income (left), or acceptance of inequalities as a result of the free market (right).
• Whether the government's policy on the economy should be interventionist (left) or laissez-faire (right).
• Support for widened lifestyle choices (left), or support for traditional values (right).
• Whether the state should prioritise equality (left) or liberty (right). Both the left and the right tend to speak in favor of both equality and liberty - but they have different interpretations.
• Whether human nature is more malleable (left) or intrinsic (right).
• Whether the government should promote secularism (left) or religious morality (right).
• Collectivism (left) versus individualism (right).
• Support for internationalism (left), or national interest (right).

Historical origin of the terms

The terms Left and Right to refer to political affiliation originated early in the French Revolutionary era, and referred originally to the seating arrangements in the various legislative bodies of France. The aristocracy sat on the right of the Speaker (traditionally the seat of honor) and the commoners sat on the Left, hence the terms Right-wing politics and Left-wing politics.

Related Topics:
French Revolution - Various legislative bodies - France - Right-wing politics - Left-wing politics

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Originally, the defining point on the ideological spectrum was the ancien régime ("old order"). "The Right" thus implied support for aristocratic or royal interests, and the church, while "The Left" implied opposition to the same. Because the political franchise at the start of the revolution was relatively narrow, the original "Left" represented mainly the interests of the bourgeoisie, the rising capitalist class. At that time, support for laissez-faire capitalism and Free markets were counted as being on the left; today in most Western countries these views would be characterized as being on the Right.

Related Topics:
Ancien régime - Bourgeoisie - Laissez-faire capitalism - Free market

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As the franchise expanded over the next several years, it became clear that there was something to the left of that original "Left": the precursors of socialism and communism, advocating the interests of wage-earners and peasants.

Related Topics:
Socialism - Communism

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