THE POLITICAL COMPASS

WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES STAND FOR

Although we still tend to think of politics in terms of 'left' and 'right' this polarisation is too simplistic to describe todays complex political landscape. Traditionally at opposite ends of the political spectrum, Labour and conservative have moved so close together in terms of shared economic and social policies, that there is any little left to distinguish them. Traditional definitions can also be misleading. Its position on race and nationalism means that the BNP is generally regarded as radically right winged, yet it is far to the left even of labour when it comes to social issues like health and housing.

The clear cut political divisions of the past may have become blurred, but there are models for measuring the views and attitudes of voters. One of the most famous of these tools is called the Political-axes of which are left-right and liberal-authoritarian.
Note that the left-right axis relates not to political orientation in the traditional sense, but to economic policy: Left= Nationalisation, right+ privisation. The liberal- authoritarian axis related to individual rights: Liberal= all rights lie with in the individual, authoritarian+ the state has high degree of control over its citizens

Always radical, never consistent. WalterBenjamin