POLITICAL SPECTRUM An Introduction

DEFINITION A political spectrum is a tool used to visually compare different political positions by placing the positions on one or more axes.

In the United States, the most commonly used political spectrum, (also known as the political continuum), places a range of beliefs along a horizontal line and is described in terms left or right of center. LEFT RIGHT CENTER

Most commonly, the Political Spectrum tells us two things: How much change in government a person is willing to allow (and how fast that change should take place) How much the government should intervene, or get involved, in the lives of people (particularly with respect to the economy)

GENERAL ASSUMPTIONS LEFT More government intervention Gradual to rapid change in government RIGHT Less government intervention Little to no change in status quo

QUICK RECAP: LEFT used to describe people who support change in society and government intervention RIGHT refers to people who hold traditional values and want less government intervention

POLITICAL SPECTRUM OF IDEOLOGIES LEFT RIGHT LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE RADICAL MODERATE REACT.

RADICAL Far left of the political spectrum Call for wide-sweeping rapid change in the basic structure of the political, social, or economic system. May be willing to resort to extreme methods to bring about change, including the use of violence and revolution.

LIBERAL Government should be actively involved in the promotion of social welfare of a nation’s citizens. Call for peaceful, gradual change within the existing political system. Reject violent revolution as a way of changing the way things are

MODERATE May share viewpoints with both liberals and conservatives Tolerant of other people’s views Do not hold extreme views Advocate a “go-slow” or “wait-and-see” approach to social or political change

CONSERVATIVE Favor keeping things the way they are, or maintaining the status quo Usually hesitant or cautious about adopting new policies, especially if they involve government activism. They feel that the less government there is, the better.

REACTIONARY Far right of ideological spectrum Want to go back to the way things were—the “good ol’ days” Often willing to use extreme methods, such as repressive use of government power, to achieve their goals

SPECTRUMS AND PARTIES Political parties are loosely formed around these broad political ideologies.

TWO MAJOR U.S. PARTIES DEMOCRATS generally seen as liberal because they support government regulation of the economy REPUBLICANS generally seen as conservative because they advocate a reduction in government

MORE SPECIFICALLY… Within parties, there are people who hold a variety of opinions on social and economic issues that fall along the spectrum of political ideologies Examples are liberal Democrats, moderate Democrats, moderate Republicans, and conservative Republicans

BOTH PARTIES LEAN TOWARD MODERATE Current theorists say that U.S. political parties are becoming increasingly moderate and therefore less easily separated on the political spectrum DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS

WHERE WOULD YOU PUT… Communists? Socialists? Fascists? Absolutists? LEFT RIGHT CONSERVATIVE FASCIST SOCIALIST LIBERAL CENTRISTS ABSO REACT. COMMUNIST RADICAL

CURRENT ISSUES LEFT RIGHT Pro Gun Control Pro-Choice (Abortion) No Censorship Prisons should Rehabilitate Pro-Privacy Equal Funding for Education Democratic Party Platform RIGHT Anti-Gun Control Pro-Life (Abortion) Anti-Flag Burning Prisons Should Punish Prayer in Schools School Vouchers Republican Party Platform

SURVEY RESULTS Reflect on your results! Where did you fall? Was this accurate? 500 100 400 200 300 RADICAL LIBERAL MODERATE CONSERV. REACTIONARY LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE CONSERVATIVE

MATCH WHERE YOU FALL WITH THE FOLLOWING POLITICAL FIGURES Ronald Reagan Jesse Jackson Ted Kennedy Hillary Clinton Bill Clinton Colin Powell George Bush Jack Kemp Bob Dole 100% LIBERAL 100% CONSERVATIVE