What is the political spectrum and how does it work?

Think of the political spectrum as a scale with two opposite ends – the left and the right. Each end represents a group of principles, and those on the left tend to oppose those on the right.

What is right-wing and left-wing politics?

This gave birth to the terms “right-wing” and “left-wing” politics. The Left had been called “the party of movement” and the Right “the party of order.”

What is the difference between left and right political views?

Those on the left tend to adopt a progressive view, meaning they often favour social change or reform. A typical example is supporting same-sex marriage. Those on the right tend to uphold more traditional views. A typical example is being in favour of the monarchy.

What is the left-right dimension in politics?

Most long-standing spectra include the left–right dimension, which originally referred to seating arrangements in the French parliament after the Revolution (1789–1799), with radicals on the left and aristocrats on the right.

How do political parties influence the law?

Very often, political parties will suggest policies that align with their place on the spectrum (for example, the Labour party in the UK will usually suggest left-wing policies). These policies can then become Law, which in turn can impact our society as a whole. A tiny bit of history…

What is the political spectrum of liberalism?

Political spectrum. Liberalism can mean different things in different contexts, sometimes on the left ( social liberalism ), sometimes within libertarianism ( classical liberalism ). Those with an intermediate outlook are classified as centrists or moderates. Politics that rejects the conventional left–right spectrum is known as syncretic politics.

What are the two axis models of the political spectrum?

Two-axis political compass chart with a horizontal socio-economic axis and a vertical socio-cultural axis and ideologically representative political colours, an example for a frequently used model of the political spectrum Three axis model of political ideologies with both moderate and radical versions and the goals of their policies