The Political Spectrum Flashcards
What is the political compass?
The political compass is a model that classifies political ideologies based on two dimensions: economic policy (left vs. right) and government authority (authoritarian vs. libertarian).
What does the economic axis of the political compass represent?
The economic axis runs from left (government-regulated economy) to right (free-market economy with minimal government intervention).
What does the political axis of the political compass represent?
The political axis runs from authoritarian (strong government control over society) at the top to libertarian (emphasis on personal freedom and limited government) at the bottom.
What is the top-left quadrant of the political compass, and what are some examples?
The top-left represents totalitarianism, where the government controls both the economy and society. Examples include North Korea and the Soviet Union under Stalin.
What is the top-right quadrant of the political compass, and what are some examples?
The top-right represents authoritarian capitalism, where the economy is free-market but the government controls society. Examples include Singapore and modern China.
What is the bottom-left quadrant of the political compass, and why are there no real-world examples?
The bottom-left represents communist democracy, where the government controls the economy but allows personal freedoms. No real-world examples exist because communist governments have historically been authoritarian.
What is the bottom-right quadrant of the political compass, and what are some examples?
The bottom-right represents advanced industrial democracies, where free markets coexist with strong personal freedoms. Examples include the U.S., Great Britain, and Japan.
Where does the Republican Party generally fall on the political compass?
The Republican Party is in the center-top-right, supporting economic freedom (right) but favoring some government control over social issues (top).
Where does the Democratic Party generally fall on the political compass?
The Democratic Party is in the center-bottom-left, supporting economic regulation (left) while advocating for personal freedoms (bottom).
How does the political compass improve our understanding of political ideologies?
It shows that political beliefs are not just left vs. right but also involve the degree of government control over society, offering a more nuanced classification of ideologies.
