The Political Compass and
the Political Spectrum
“If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there'd be a
shortage of sand.” (Milton Friedman)
Political Ideology
* What is IDEOLOGY?
…an ideology begins with the belief that ‘things’ can be better; it is a
plan to improve society by following certain doctrines!
* It is the VERBAL IMAGE of
a ‘GOOD’ SOCIETY – and the
“chief means of constructing
that society!”
PRAGMATIC
vs.
IDEOLOGUE
“Principles have no real force except when one is well-fed.” (Mark Twain)
What historical figure do you share a spot on the POLITICAL SPECTRUM with?
“What do you think of when you
hear LEFT and RIGHT in
American politics?”
Democrats
Republicans
“Where do the terms LEFT and RIGHT come from?”
“Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left
instead of right or wrong.” (Richard Armour)
“What is the problem with a
LINEAR REPRESENTATION of
political ideology?”
(traditional LEFT and RIGHT)
Democrats
Stalin, Mao and… Gandhi?
Republicans
Pinochet, Bush and… Rand?
* By adding a SOCIAL DIMENSION (y axis) you
can show the actual differences between
Stalin, Gandhi and Democrats; Pinochet, Rand
and Republicans!
Complete ECONOMIC and SOCIAL
REGULATION by the state.
Complete ECONOMIC FREEDOM for individuals,
complete SOCIAL REGULATION by the state.
* CLOSENESS to an AXIS indicates MODERATE IDEOLOGY
Complete ECONOMIC regulation by
individuals, complete SOCIAL FREEDOM
for individuals.
Complete ECONOMIC and SOCIAL FREEDOM for
individuals.
Economic Issues
COLLECTIVIST Ideology
ANARCHO-CAPITALIST Ideology
…the “desire for the economy to …the “desire for the economy to be
be run by a cooperative
left to competing individuals and
collective agency” (the STATE OR a
organizations”
network of COMMUNES!)
1.) Emphasizes the INTER-
DEPENDENCE OF HUMANS and
their RESOURCES and ABILITIES
1.) Promotes exercise of own
economic goals and desires; values
INDEPENDENCE and SELFRELIANCE
2.) Priority of GROUP ECONOMIC 2.) Advocates for INDIVIDUAL
GOALS over INDIVIDUAL GOALS
SOVEREIGNTY in a free market
“What are SOCIETAL characteristics of both ideologies?”
Social Issues
AUTHORITARIAN/TOTALITARIAN Ideology
…the “belief that authority should be obeyed”
1.) The State holds TOTAL AUTHORITY over
SOCIETY; seeks to CONTROL ALL ASPECTS of
PUBLIC/PRIVATE LIFE
LIBERTARIAN Ideology
…the “belief that individual freedom should be
maximized”
1.) An emphasis is placed on INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY,
POLITICAL FREEDOM and VOLUNTARY
ASSOCIATION
“What are SOCIETAL characteristics of both ideologies?”
“Where are MOST of the world’s
governments on the POLITICAL SPECTRUM?”
American Politics:
REMEMBER, this
shows the WHOLE
spectrum of political
thought. NOT just the
national average!
“Where are MOST AMERICAN POLITICIANS
on the POLITICAL SPECTRUM?” – WHY?