Right-wing and Left-wing Politics Flashcards
Left-wing…
A widely used term for those who desire change, reform, and alteration to the way in which society operates. Often this involves radical criticisms of capitalism made by modern liberal and socialist parties.
Right-wing…
Reflects support for the status quo, little or no change, stressing the need for order, stability, and hierarchy; generally relative to conservative parties.
The political spectrum from left-wing to right-wing…
> Communism
> Socialism
> Liberalism
> Conservatism
> Fascism
The left-right divide in UK politics - Economics and trade…
Left
> State economic planning and nationalisation of major industries.
> State regulation of large industries that exploit consumers or workers.
> Relaxed approach to govt borrowing; much state investment in infrastructure.
Centre-left
> Elements from both centre and left.
Centre
> Largely free-market economy with some state regulation.
> Pragmatic approach to govt borrowing to stimulate economic growth.
Centre-right
> Elements from both centre and right.
Right
> Strong support for totally free markets.
> No state intervention in the economy.
The left-right divide in UK politics - Income and employment…
Left
> Redistribution of income to create more economic equality
> Strong trade unions, and protected rights for workers
> Protectionism for domestic industries
> Anti-EU
Centre-left
> Elements from both centre and left.
Centre
> Pro-free trade
> Mild redistribution of income, with some poverty relief.
> Pro-EU and in favour of the so-called ‘Soft Brexit’ option
Centre-right
> Elements from both centre and right.
Right
> Very low levels of taxation
> Avoidance of excessive govt borrowing to stimulate growth
> Protectionism for domestic industries.
> Free labour markets, with weak protection for workers.
> Anti-EU and in favour of the so-called ‘hard Brexit’ option.
The left-right divide in UK politics - Social issues
Left
> Strong support for the welfare state.
> Stress on equal rights and protection for minority groups.
> Positive attitude to same-sex marriage and surrogate motherhood.
> Liberal attitude to crime and its remedies.
Centre-left
> Elements from both centre and left.
Centre
> Welfare state to concentrate on the most needy.
> Support for multiculturalism.
> Mixed attitudes to crime - typically a liberal attitude to minor crime but a hard line on serious crime.
> The state should promote individualism.
Centre-right
> Elements from both centre and right.
Right
> A more limited welfare state, with caps on the total amount of benefits available to families and tougher criteria for claiming benefits.
> Anti-immigration - support for strict controls.
> Opposed to multiculturalism.
> Traditional attitudes to moral issues and relationships.
> Stress on patriotism and national interest.
