EXPLORING THE POLITICAL
SPECTRUM
Internet Activity
Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both. 1
Where do you fit on the Political
Spectrum???
This lesson is based on three different quizzes that
will help to establish where you fit on the spectrum
or compass. You need to complete all of these tests.
Minds On- Political Spectrum Work Sheet package 20
questions
Action - 1. Political Beast Quiz on line @
http://politics.beasts.org/scripts/survey 75 questions
3. Political Compass Test on line @
www.politicalcompass.org 62 questions
Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
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The Political Beast Quiz
The next 4 through 11 slides are connected to
The Political Beast Quiz and should be referred
to and used for the reflection portion of your
assignment.
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Political Beasts Instructions…
1. Go to : http://politics.beasts.org/scripts/survey . The test is 75 questions long be sure to answer them to the best of your ability, and be sure to ask for clarification of terms if you are unsure.
2. At the completion of the survey you will be given a Graph of where you fit on the spectrum. Right click that image, select save, and save it to your H drive. Print this page as well.
3. On the next slide you will see a set of images one will look very similar to your graph. You will delete this graph and paste your own in its place.
4. From the other political spectrum graphics that are on this slide you are to come to a conclusion as to where your political ideologies fit.
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Where are you in the political spectrum
according to the political beasts quiz? 5
Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Types of Issues relevant to each axis
Money & Economic Issues
Taxation
Business Regulation
Subsidies
Price Regulation
Government Spending
Wealth Distribution
Moral & Social Issues
Criminal Law
Morality
Prison Policies
Rights and Liberties
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Conservatism (-Republicans Conservatives)
A conservative generally believes:
in a minimal role of government. This particularly applies
to economic and monetary issues
in a strong emphasis on moral values and strict
enforcement of criminal law
in individual freedom and the protection of these freedoms
at all costs. These Freedoms include all absolute rights
In an equal opportunity for all to succeed after putting forth
an effort (people need to do for themselves)
in individualism and support of strong moral character
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Liberalism ( -Democrats NDP, Liberals)
A liberal typically:
Believes in a government with a large role. This typically includes, but is not bound to, support of: some form of income redistribution, social legislation, and a "bigger government" role in the economy and monetary matters.
Liberalism takes a very passive side to most moral issues. Certain criminal law, for example anti drug laws, are often questioned and disapproved of by the left. The far left often adheres to what can be termed an "if it feels good, do it" policy.
Role of society is thought of as a basis. The "it takes a village" proverb and a society as a whole often take precedent to individual rights.
Results should be equal for all. Those who put in more effort should be no more successful than those who don't
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Communism as seen in practice not
necessarily theory
A communist believes:
In complete government involvement and regulation
of the economy.
redistribution of wealth is key
The government should own, run, and control all
business.
The ends justify the means. All is done for the good
of society
Access to resources should be equitable
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Libertarianism(Different Axis I -not liberalism)
Libertarians believe:
that each person owns his own life and property, and has the right to make his own choices as to how he lives his life - as long as he simply respects the same right of others to do the same.
you should be free to do as you choose with your own life and property, as long as you don't harm the person and property of others.
that this combination of personal and economic liberty produces abundance, peace, harmony, creativity, order, and safety
Government control of the economy should be minimal.
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
The Moderates
The moderate tends to stand with different groups
on an issue to issue basis. Some moderates have
strong leanings in regards to certain ideologies in
partial areas such as moral conservatism and
economic liberalism
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
The Political Compass Test
The next 12 through 23 slides are connected to
The Political Compass Test and should be
referred to and used for the reflection portion
of your assignment.
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
The Political Compass Concept
Some feel that the Political Spectrum that just goes from left to
right is not adequate.
It is essentially an economic line.
We can show, for example, Stalin and Mao Tse Tung, with their
commitment to a totally controlled economy, on the hard left. Socialists
like Mahatma Gandhi and Robert Mugabe would occupy a less extreme
leftist position. Margaret Thatcher would be well over to the right.
That deals with economics, but the social dimension is also
important in politics. That's the one that the left-right scale
doesn't adequately address. So they added one, ranging in
positions from extreme authoritarian to extreme libertarian.
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Both an economic dimension and a social dimension are
important factors for a proper political analysis.
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Some international examples… 15
Political Compass Instructions
1. Your are to go to the web page: www.politicalcompass.org
The test is 6 “web pages” long be sure to answer them to the
best of your ability, and be sure to ask for clarification of
terms used if you are unsure.
1. Look at the sample handout for additional assistance where
several of the questions have been clarified.
2. At the completion of the survey you will be given a Graph of
where you fit on the spectrum. Right click that image, select
save, and save it to your H drive. Print this page as well.
3. Go back to slide number 6 and copy your graph over the
image on the left hand side.
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Authoritarian
Characterized by or favouring absolute obedience
to authority, as against individual freedom: an
authoritarian regime.
Of, relating to, or expecting unquestioning
obedience.
Adjective
insisting on strict obedience to authority
Noun
a person who insists on strict obedience to authority
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Libertarian
The most common definition of libertarian is
someone who believes that individuals should have
the freedom to do whatever they wish so long as
they do not hurt anyone in the process.
Note, that if left to their own volition, not everyone
supports equality.
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Liberalism or Moving toward the
Left Wing
Left wingers believe in substantial equality.
They argue that not every individual is the same
and so government policy should be aimed to
create substantial rather than just formal equality.
Examples of left wing substantial equality include
affirmative action and social and cultural rights.
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Left Wing (don’t just copy and paste this in your write up)
Can be divided into 6 key principles:
Belief in positive law (law made by human beings)
Faith in progress
Preference for equality over liberty
Belief in the benevolence of government and
individuals (charitable)
Belief in the perfectibility of human beings (the
capability of becoming perfect)
Belief in the community
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Learning Goal... Students will gain knowledge of the political spectrum and compass, an understanding of left wing vs right wing political positions & will also gain a deeper understanding of where they fit on both.
Right Wing (don’t just copy and paste this in your write up)
A society can either be free or equal, but it cannot be both.
This is counter-intuitive to most people in liberal democracies, who
want above all else to live in a perfectly free & perfectly equal
country.
While it is true that certain forms of freedom & equality are connected,
such as equality under law & freedom of opportunity, freedom &
equality are more likely at odds. Common sense suggests that where
freedom is to be promoted, inequality must result and where
equality is to be established, freedoms will likely be curtailed.
tradition & history are very important to conservatives, they do not
oppose progress blindly. Conservatives believe that change and
progress can be either good or evil, and that as a society we ought to
progress in such a way as to maximize both freedom and virtue.
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Right Wing Conservatism continued... (don’t just copy & paste this in your assignment)
the definition of conservative can be divided into 6
key principles:
Belief in natural law (body of rules inherent in human
nature and essential to or binding upon human society)
Belief in established institutions
Preference for liberty over equality
Suspicion of power—and of human nature
Belief that some are exceptional instead of perfect
equality
Belief in the individual
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Capitalism vs Socialism vs Communism
Capitalism is an informal economic system in which property
is largely privately owned, and in which profit provides
incentive for capital investment and the employment of
labour.
Socialism is a formal economic system in which society exerts
considerable control over the nation's wealth and property in
the pursuit of social justice.
Communism is a formal economic system in which property,
particularly capital property (e.g. factories, machines, tools,
etc.), is commonly owned and scarce resources are allocated
through planning as opposed to price signals in a free
market.
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Where do you stand?
Fill out the assignment and hand it in
1. Begin by describing the axis itself, explain what is
meant by right wing, left wing, authoritarian and
libertarian (knowledge & understanding)
2. Which ideologies and political parties apply to you
based on the test results? (application)
3. Then describe whether or not you agree or disagree
with the ideologies that each test has assigned you
and why. Be specific and provide examples. (thinking &
inquiry)
If you disagree with the results, explain what ideology or ideologies
do you believe fit you better or fit your beliefs? (thinking & inquiry)
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