Where are you on the political spectrum?
Your position will determine how you see the world.
If you are a communist, any step away from communism is a step toward fascism. If you are a fascist, any step away from fascism is a step toward communism. Similarly, if you are left or right of center, any step toward center is a step toward the extreme you oppose. However, are those labels helpful? Or are they merely epithets to be hurled at your opponent to rally your side?
I see undesirable qualities and similarities in both extremes. I find it amusing when someone posts about their fears of the other side winning, while being totally unaware that their side is doing the same thing.
I thought it might be helpful to look at the entire spectrum from far left to far right. Since I don’t have formal training in political philosophy, I started with AI.
Political philosophies can be broadly categorized along a spectrum from left-wing to right-wing, based on their ideological positions on issues such as governance, economy, and social policy. Here's a generalized ordering from far left to far right:
Far Left:
Communism/Marxism: Advocates for the overthrow of capitalism through revolutionary means, aiming to establish a classless society based on common ownership of resources.
Democratic Socialism: Supports social ownership of the means of production and a strong welfare state, but within a democratic political framework.
Center-Left:
Progressivism: Emphasizes social justice, environmental sustainability, and government intervention to address inequality and promote welfare.
Social Democracy: Advocates for a mixed economy with significant government involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, and welfare, but maintains a market-based economy.
Center:
Moderate or Centrist Policies: Tend to blend elements of left and right-wing ideologies, focusing on pragmatic solutions rather than ideological purity.
Center-Right:
Classical Liberalism: Supports individual rights, limited government, and free market economics, but tends to be less doctrinaire than libertarianism.
Libertarianism: Prioritizes individual liberty, minimal government intervention in both personal and economic affairs, and free markets.
Far Right:
Conservatism: Values tradition, order, and stability, supporting minimal government intervention in economic affairs but often advocating for strong social norms and values.
Right-Wing Populism: Focuses on nationalism, protectionism, and often advocates for restrictive immigration policies.
Fascism: Emphasizes authoritarianism, nationalism, and the supremacy of the state over individual rights.
Notice that fascism and communism both wind up with no individual rights. The government is in control.
Many might think they are liberals, yet they do not consider themselves center right. They consider themselves social democrats or even further left. Notice that as we get further from center, individual freedom is lost.
Many who use the term “liberal” as an epithet, believe they are conservative or center right. Yet the idea of individual freedom and limited government is being a classical liberal.
Do the labels help us? I think they hurt us. I don’t think many people really think about it. They use the labels as a way to discredit their opponents. After all, if my opponent is a communist or a fascist then I don’t have to take him or her seriously.
Political philosophy is often confused with economic philosophy. Next, I’ll take a look at the spectrum of economic philosophy.