Political Spectrum: Left Wing vs Right Wing

Belief in Liberal Democracy (liberalism) is a commitment to the individual and the desire to construct a society which people can satisfy their interest and achieve fulfillment To simplify things for now, let us ignore the extreme left (communists) and the extreme right (fascists)… they are not liberals We will be looking at the liberal left (Liberals) and the liberal right (Conservatives)

The position on the Left and Right spectrum revolves around the following issues: Speed of Change in Society Government Control of the Economy Sharing of wealth through social programs Government’s role in citizens’ lives Political Freedom vs. Political Control

Desire for Change Left – Support change in order to improve welfare of all citizens Right – Tradition is important and change should be treated with caution

Economy Left – Government should play a larger role in people’s lives ( social services, benefits ) – Against Free Trade (Favours protectionism) – More government ownership – Supports labour unions

Economy Right – Government should play a small role – Private business should ensure needs of citizens are met – For Free Trade (Against protectionism) – Less government ownership – Against labour unions

Politics Left – Law and order are important to protect rights of all citizens – Rehabilitate criminals – Those with education and ability should have the right to vote. – More freedom to individuals (in regards to social issues) and less power to police – Use diplomacy instead of war and military.

Politics Right – Emphasis of law and order to protect society and its traditions – Punish criminals – The right to vote must be balanced with the need to protect property and traditional institutions from the “will of the masses.” – Less freedom to individuals (in regards to social issues) and more power to police. – Wars are a natural occurrence and are necessary for the preservation of a strong society, economic stability, and social order.

Social Left – Pro-choice in regards to abortions – Equal of opportunity – Class equality – Social freedom

Social Right – Abortions are wrong – Equality of rights – Class inequality – Believe in “traditional” values

Individualist or Collectivist? Might be too confusing, but generally… Right wing are socially collectivist but economically individualist Left wing are socially individualist but economically collectivist