SST3771-ABED: 1.3.5 The Ideological Spectrum

"which way" by Rosmarie Voegtli, Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

As you have learned, ideologies represent the views and values of individuals and societies. In many ways, they are difficult to categorize because they encompass many views. Not only do people have ideas about how society should be organized, they also have distinct views about political and economic matters.

To help understand and compare ideologies, they are often placed along a spectrum. This line or grid is often associated with certain values and beliefs, and establishes a common ground to further examine different ideologies.

Left and Right on the Ideological Spectrum

One way of looking at ideologies is to put them on a spectrum from right to left. The political spectrum originated with the seating arrangement of the French National Assembly of 1789. Historically, those who supported the Ancien Régime sat on the right, and those who wanted change towards greater democracy sat on the left. Today in France, the left is called the "Party of Movement" and the right is called the "Party of Order". Political scientists today continue to categorize ideologies, or different belief systems, along this line.

Today, the spectrum helps categorize how different ideologies feel about political, social, or economic structures in society. For purposes of this course, it is important you learn how these values place on the ideological spectrum.

In North America, the right and left are used to describe a very broad range of ideologies. You may have heard these terms in the news to describe people, political parties, and nations. Sometimes people are referred to as right wing or left wing. These terms are emotionally charged and are often used as a way of insulting someone's beliefs or practices.

There are other ways to categorize these ideologies. Some organize these different belief systems in a grid. See below:

Another way to present differing ideologies is through an arc. Pay careful attention to the labels on each axis or line.

When comparing another outside reference to ideology, always refer back to how this course defines the ideological spectrum. It will be important to distinguish the ideology in theory with how others practice and label certain ideology.

For example, can you tell which side of the spectrum each man in the cartoon represents?

"Plan For the Future" by Phil Hands© Artizans courtesy of Wisconson State Journal

Economic Spectrum

One way to consider ideologies is to put them on a spectrum or continuum. This shows where the systems are in relation to each other. It also shows that the elements may blur together, but the ends of each point are ideological opposites. Remember that a continuum is a model-the end points are the ideals, and in reality there are no absolutes! The right hand side of the spectrum refers to greater individualism and greater economic freedom and the left hand side of the spectrum represents collectivism and greater economic equality.

Communism is one ideology that values extreme collectivism both politically and economically. Communism was the ideology of the former Soviet Union, and is the main ideology practiced in Cuba, North Korea, and Laos today. Today, China and Vietnam are communist countries politically, but both countries practice some form of capitalism economically. Later in this course, you will consider communism in more detail, especially in regard to its political and economic characteristics.

Inside the back cover of your textbook find different world economies placed on an economic spectrum. This resource will come in handy in Unit Three and Six.

Political Spectrum

Political ideologies can also be categorized or arranged based on social and political beliefs. While the left encourages change, the right side tends to resist new ideas in favour of tradition. The end points represent extremes of ideology. Political extremes both support swift, sometimes violent change. The words revolutionary or radical often describe the extreme left position. The extreme right tends to resist change, often using violent measures. Counter-revolutionary or reactionary describe this far right position.

The extreme left favours greater equality of all people, including acceptance of multiculturalism, while the extreme right supports maintaining the status quo, or how things were "in the good old days", including the promotion of one distinct national culture. The centre represents a moderate position that may range from moderate left to moderate right. Moderates may support change on some issues while resisting it on others.

Inside the front cover of your textbook check out how key political thinkers align on the spectrum. This will come in handy when completing Unit Two.

Extremism on the Spectrum

Extremism is found at both ends of the ideological spectrum. On the extreme right side politically, is fascism. It is an extremely reactionary ideology that grew in the 1920s and 1930s in Europe, most notably in Germany under Adolf Hitler, and in Italy under Benito Mussolini.

Fascism is a nationalistic and racist ideology that calls for the development of a racially pure nation. It resulted in the totalitarian state of Nazi Germany, in which the government controlled almost every aspect of peoples' lives. You will learn more about fascism as an extreme right-wing political ideology in Nazi Germany later in the course.

Find out where you fit on the ideological grid compared to other famous people. Go to the Political Compass website. It is also available as a Facebook application.