The Political SpectrumChapter 5: “Political Parties”www.politicalcompass.org

What famous historical figure do you share a spot on the political

spectrum with?

First off, let us understand the TRUE meaning of the term LIBERAL

* Liberal in the CLASSICAL sense of the word = “hands-off” *

* George Washington’s “liberal democracy” – 1790

* America today… LIBERTARIANISM!

Just kidding.

What are the problems with this linear representation of political philosophy?

Stalin, Mao and… Gandhi?

Pinochet and… Rand?

Democrats? Republicans?

By adding a social dimension (y axis)

you can show the differences between Stalin, Gandhi and

Democrats; Pinochet, Rand and Republicans!

Complete Economic and Social freedom.

Complete Economic and Social regulation.

Complete Economic regulation, complete Social freedom.

Complete Economic freedom, complete Social regulation.

First, let’s look at the economic scale (x axis)!

* Communism (LEFT) and Liberalism (RIGHT) *

Left (Communism) Right (Liberalism)Economic Issues

Planned/regulated markets

High (or absolute) taxation

Limits on prop. ownership

Collectivization

Free and open markets

Free/open trade

Limited or no taxation

Private Property

Next, let’s look at the social scale (y axis)!

* Authoritarianism (top) and Libertarianism

(bottom) *

Authoritarianism (Fascism)

Libertarianism (Anarchism)

Social Issues

Compulsory military service

Regulated ind. behavior, social issues

Censorship (speech/media)

No (or very small) standing army

Un-regulated behavior, social issues

Free speech and media

Josef Stalin, the USSR and

“Stalinism”

Stalinist policies in the Soviet Union included: * Socialism* Centralized state* Collectivization of agriculture, industry and manufacturing * Subordination of interests

Noam Chomsky and “Libertarian Socialism”

* Anti-Capitalism

* Anti-Authoritarianism

* OPPOSED to the ‘state’

* SPAIN – before WWII…

* Strong advocates for CIVIL LIBERTIES, IND. FREEDOM

Augusto Pinochet and his Chilean Presidency…

After Pinochet took control of the Chilean government:

* Cut tariffs (free-trade) to promote global trade * Restricted labor unions… * Privatized social security… * Privatized hundreds of state-controlled industries…

Ayn Rand and “Objectivism”

“…the police, to protect men from criminals – the armed services, to protect men from foreign invaders – the law

courts, to settle disputes among men according to objectively defined laws…"

* Objectivists believe government is both legitimate and critically important in order to protect individual rights…

Where do we typically designate European

countries on the political spectrum?

American Politics:REMEMBER, this shows the WHOLE spectrum of political thought. NOT

just the national average!