3 political spectrum

Political Spectrum

1

Ideology Quiz Debrief

Did you learn anything about yourself while taking the survey OR did any of you receive a label that you do not agree fits you?

Were there any issues that you really never gave any thought about until asked?

Was anyone shocked at the questions being asked, or did the wording of the question irritate anyone?

Did you find yourself putting these propositions in the context of the bigger picture or did you only consider the question at hand?

Do you think that the label you have been given now might change during the semester? Your first few years in the real world? 20 years from now?2

Traditional Left-Right Spectrum

Revolutionary Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary

These are the terms you already looked up and defined from the textbook.

We will come back to this, but for now just know this is the scale that political parties are typically labeled on.

3

Political Compass

4

Authoritarian Left (red box)

Government should closely regulate the economy and individual behavior.

Centralized planning of the economy, strict monitoring of corporations and markets, and restriction of immoral behaviors are the foundations of a strong, stable and productive society.

Economic liberty and individual freedom are not practical options in today's world.

Excess focus on civil liberties greatly impair the ability of the society to discourage and restrict criminal behavior.

5

Authoritarian Right (blue box)

That the State exists to protect a society

That the individual exists to protect, serve and obey the State

That protecting the traditional family is the duty of the State

That children should be raised to support and nurture the State

That markets should be free, as long as they serve the interests of the State

That the law binds a society and must be obeyed by all individuals, without question

That individual rights are not as important as the continuing harmony of society

That an orderly (sometimes regimented) society is of the utmost importance

6

Libertarian Right (purple box)

Concerned more with economic freedoms

Favorable towards a natural hierarchy

See big business as a victim of the state

Favor a strong national defense

Oppose empire building

7

Libertarian Left (green box)

Concerned more with personal freedoms

Favorable towards voluntary egalitarianism

Egalitarianism – a system that promotes equality between individuals. Now this can be political equality, where you are not judged based on race, religion, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, socioeconomic status, (dis)ability or cultural heritage OR social equality, where economic inequalities are removed among people.

Oppose big business

Favor active intervention to protect liberty

8

Review: Democratic Party

Economic position – More authoritarian

Government is more of a solution = Social Security, greater regulation, progressive tax system, unemployment compensation

Social position - government can be a solution on social problems, but do not regulate private behavior

Pro-choice, civil rights laws, defining hate crimes public media support

9

Democratic Party

Democrats?

10

Review: Republican Party

Economic position –

Government is more of a problem = less regulation, lower taxes (and more proportional)

Social position - a blend depending on how much influence “social conservatives” have

Government is a problem unless enforcing morality = let society work out social problems, pro-life, decency laws

11

Republican Party

Democrats Republicans?

12

Review: Libertarian Party

Government is a corrupting influence; reactionary policies

Limited government to protect against invasion and to protect property rights

Extremely low taxes, STRICT CONSTRUCTION/literal interpretation of Constitution - provide only those things the Constitution specifically says

Pro-choice, decriminalize drugs, no special marriage laws

13

Libertarian Party

Democrats Republicans

Libertarian?14

Review: Constitution Party

Cross between Libertarian and Republican on economics; government is the problem

Socially more extreme of Republican position; more moral/Christian values imposed on society (pro-life, prayer in school)

15

Constitution Party


Libertarian

Constitutional?

16

Review: Green Party

Economics - more government control

Much higher minimum wage, more regulation, more progressive taxation

Social - blend

More strongly held positions on civil rights, pro-choice; but also drug decriminalization; smaller military

17

Green Party


Libertarian

Constitutional

Green?

18


Revolutionary (radical) – favors extreme change to create an altered or entirely new social system.

Liberal – believes that government must take action to change economic, political, and ideological policies thought to be unfair

Moderate – Holds beliefs that fall between liberal and conservative views, usually including some of both.

Conservative – seeks to keep in place the economic, political, and social structures of society

Reactionary – favors extreme change to restore society to an earlier, more conservative state.19


Revolutionary Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary

--------Democratic Party--------

-----Republican Party-----

-Libertarian Party-

-Constitution Party-

-Green Party-

How do you reconcile differences between Libertarian and

Constitution Parties? Similarities between Libertarians and

Greens?20

Which option do you prefer more?

Liberal Conservative

21

Summary activity….(i.e. your ticket out the door)

Pull out a piece of notebook paper.

Write down the following on that paper

3 most important things learned during this block

2 questions you still have about the material learned today

1 way the information you learned today connects to something you already knew

On your way out, hand me your responses. DO NOT give them to someone else to hand in…they will get lost and you will lose points if I do not receive it before you leave!

22

3 political spectrum

Documents