Left Right Classification
I see that there is some confusion out there about which movements belong to the left, and which to the right. (
Amritas complains about it
here, Scott, in my comments
here.) Of course, the problem is that people, ideas, and movements are not one-dimensional. However, for the sake of clarity, at least regarding two of the infinite number of possible dimensions, I would like to propose the following:
|
Internationalist |
|
|
Socialist |
|
Left-wing |
Libertarian |
|
Fascist |
Right-wing |
|
Individualist |
|
Nationalist |
|
UPDATE: I have been asked to define the difference between Socialist and Nationalist. (Doing so should also define their opposites.) A nationalist wants to use government power to advance national goals, e.g. defense. A socialist wants to use government power to advance social goals, e.g. education. (I have purposely chosen relatively uncontroversial examples, though a pure libertarian would advocate against both.)
UPDATE: By this definition the USSR could be defined as Fascist, though its rhetoric was Left-wing. In practice, Fascist states were only slightly less socialist than Communist states, while Communist states were only slightly less nationalist than Fascist states.
Posted by David Boxenhorn at May 27, 2004 03:23 PM