Political compass
Encyclopedia
The political compass is a multi-axis model, used by the website of the same name, to label or organize political thought on two dimensions. In its selection and representation of these two dimensions, it is similar to the Nolan Chart
. The term "Political Compass" is claimed as a trademark by the British
website, The Political Compass, which uses responses to a set of 61 propositions to rate political views on two axes: Economic (Left-Right) and Social (Authoritarian
-Libertarian
). The site also includes an explanation of the two-axis system they use, a few charts which place various past and present political figures according to their estimation, and reading lists for each of the main political orientations.
should be run: "left" is defined as the view that the economy should be run by a cooperative collective agency (which can mean the state
, but can also mean a network of commune
s), while "right" is defined as the view that the economy should be left to the devices of competing individuals and organisations. The other axis (Authoritarian-Libertarian) measures one's political opinions in a social sense, regarding a view of the appropriate amount of personal freedom: "libertarianism
" is defined as the belief that personal freedom should be maximised, while "authoritarianism
" is defined as the belief that authority and tradition should be obeyed.
The labels given to the different fields and axes on the compass are based on long-standing Europe
an and Commonwealth
terminology, which can be different to those used in the politics of the United States
.
A number of other multi-axis models of political thought exist. Some are based on similar axes to the Political Spectrum. A similar chart appeared in Floodgates of Anarchy by Albert Meltzer
.
. According to the New York Times, the site is the work of Wayne Brittenden, a political journalist
. According to Tom Utley
, writing in the Daily Telegraph, the site is connected to One World Action
, a charity founded by Glenys Kinnock
, and to Kinnock herself. An early version of the site was published on One World Action's web server.
The website does not explain its scoring system in detail and some writers have criticised its validity while others have treated it more as a form of entertainment than a rigorous analysis.
Nolan Chart
The Nolan Chart is a political diagram popularized by the American libertarian David Nolan. He reasoned that virtually all human political action can be divided into two general categories: economic and personal...
. The term "Political Compass" is claimed as a trademark by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
website, The Political Compass, which uses responses to a set of 61 propositions to rate political views on two axes: Economic (Left-Right) and Social (Authoritarian
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is usually opposed to individualism and democracy...
-Libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
). The site also includes an explanation of the two-axis system they use, a few charts which place various past and present political figures according to their estimation, and reading lists for each of the main political orientations.
Political model
The underlying theory of the Political Compass is that political views may be better measured along two separate and independent axes. The Economic (Left-Right) axis measures one's opinion of how the economyEconomy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
should be run: "left" is defined as the view that the economy should be run by a cooperative collective agency (which can mean the state
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
, but can also mean a network of commune
Commune (intentional community)
A commune is an intentional community of people living together, sharing common interests, property, possessions, resources, and, in some communes, work and income. In addition to the communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living have become...
s), while "right" is defined as the view that the economy should be left to the devices of competing individuals and organisations. The other axis (Authoritarian-Libertarian) measures one's political opinions in a social sense, regarding a view of the appropriate amount of personal freedom: "libertarianism
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
" is defined as the belief that personal freedom should be maximised, while "authoritarianism
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is usually opposed to individualism and democracy...
" is defined as the belief that authority and tradition should be obeyed.
The labels given to the different fields and axes on the compass are based on long-standing Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an and Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
terminology, which can be different to those used in the politics of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
A number of other multi-axis models of political thought exist. Some are based on similar axes to the Political Spectrum. A similar chart appeared in Floodgates of Anarchy by Albert Meltzer
Albert Meltzer
Albert Meltzer was an anarcho-communist activist and writer.-Early life:Meltzer was born in London, and attracted to anarchism at the age of fifteen as a direct result of taking boxing lessons . The Labour MP for Edmonton, Edith Summerskill was virulently anti-boxing and his school governors at...
.
Politicalcompass.org
The Politicalcompass.org website does not reveal the people behind it, beyond the fact that it seems to be based in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. According to the New York Times, the site is the work of Wayne Brittenden, a political journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. According to Tom Utley
Tom Utley
Tom Utley is a British journalist who currently writes for the Daily Mail. He had previously written for The Daily Telegraph, where he was described by The Independent as a 'star columnist', but left in early 2006 after being offered a salary of £120,000 by the Daily Mail. He is the son of the...
, writing in the Daily Telegraph, the site is connected to One World Action
One World Action
One World Action is a charity based in London whose aims are a world free from poverty and oppression, where strong democracies safeguard people's rights....
, a charity founded by Glenys Kinnock
Glenys Kinnock
Glenys Elizabeth Kinnock, Baroness Kinnock and Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead is a British politician....
, and to Kinnock herself. An early version of the site was published on One World Action's web server.
The website does not explain its scoring system in detail and some writers have criticised its validity while others have treated it more as a form of entertainment than a rigorous analysis.
See also
- F-scale (personality test)
- Cleavage (politics)Cleavage (politics)Cleavage in political science is a concept used in voting analysis and is the division of voters into voting blocs.The preliminary assumption is that voters don’t come in predefined groups of pros and cons for or against a certain subject. Ballot analysis assumes that voters opt for a certain...
- Political spectrumPolitical spectrumA political spectrum is a way of modeling different political positions by placing them upon one or more geometric axes symbolizing independent political dimensions....
: discusses the dimensionality concept at length.