Political Spectrum

[Scrapheap]

We're starting to cover politics in my philosophy class, and of course the first thing that was mentioned was the limitations of the "left" to "right" classification.

So I was thinking of a 3 dimentional method of political classification. Right off the top of my head here's what I came up with.

X Axis= Freedom, Libertarianism vs Authoritarianism

Y Axis= Social Direction, Reactionary vs Progressive

Z Axis= Economics, Socialism vs Capitalism

Do you think these 3 axeees are correct or need to be changed. Do more axeees need to be added??

['andersom']

You're thinking of making something like this, but then three-dimensional?

http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

[Christopher McCandless]

Why not go for n-dimentional - 3 is way too restrictive.

By the way Scrap, I did Political Philosophy last year, if you want anyone to bounce ideas off, give me a shout. Political Obligation I reckon you would find to be the most interesting part.

['andersom']

ideology driven <-> pragmatic ?

[Scrapheap]

ideology driven <-> pragmatic ?

I suppose, but all authoritarian regimes are heavily biased towards (and are the cause of) ideology.

[Scrapheap]

You're thinking of making something like this, but then three-dimensional?

http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

Yep, I've taken that test a few times and alway end up at moderate libertarian.

[Scrapheap]

Political Obligation I reckon you would find to be the most interesting part.

Can be largely explained by game theory right??

['andersom']

ideology driven <-> pragmatic ?

I suppose, but all authoritarian regimes are heavily biased towards (and are the cause of) ideology.

Coming from a country with a multiple political party system, I see most parties have an ideological drive. Only a few more a pragmatic one. But it is something in gradations.

In the end, government ends up pragmatical here mainly, because it always consists of more than one party, quite often of three.

It does make a difference though, how the ratio pragmatics/ideology is, per party.

[Frolic_Fun]

Took the test, just as I suspected. I'm central.

[Scrapheap]

Took the test, just as I suspected. I'm central.

So, do you think the whole world revolves around you now??

[Frolic_Fun]

Oh yes, because I'm the single most important person ever. I'm smart, beautiful and superior to everyone.

[Celticgoddess]

I'm Libertarian Left. I'm smack dab beside the Dalai Lama and hanging out with Ghandi. Not surprising at all.

[Christopher McCandless]

Political Obligation I reckon you would find to be the most interesting part.

Can be largely explained by game theory right??

Nah, that is the more IR type stuff, like Richardson's arms race and MAD.

[Scrapheap]

Oh yes, because I'm the single most important person ever. I'm smart, beautiful and superior to everyone.

Thank you for gracing us with your presence. 

[Scrapheap]

ideology driven <-> pragmatic ?

I suppose, but all authoritarian regimes are heavily biased towards (and are the cause of) ideology.

Coming from a country with a multiple political party system, I see most parties have an ideological drive. Only a few more a pragmatic one. But it is something in gradations.

In the end, government ends up pragmatical here mainly, because it always consists of more than one party, quite often of three.

It does make a difference though, how the ratio pragmatics/ideology is, per party.

Agin, I think that's influenced by other things. Conservative ideologies ae going to be more pragmatic than progressive ideologies.. I see ideology more as an effect and less as a cause.