Explain to me the political compass. What does left-right mean? What does the authoritarian-libertarian line represent?

submitted by IamCleaver from self.politics

sorted by:
top
newinsightfulfun
you are viewing a single comment's thread.

view the rest of the comments →

[–]VulptexVoluntaryist 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (15 children)

The authoritarian-libertarian line is supposed to represent exactly that, totalitarianism vs anarchy. But a lot of people do use it for conservative vs progressive social policy, which is ironic because until 2020 progressives were generally much more authoritarian than conservatives about their values (now they're about equal).

I made a test that tries to get around this problem, but it's pretty sloppy since I did it by myself and I'm a busy person: https://crystalvulpine.github.io/PoliticalTriangle-old/

[–]IamCleaver[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (14 children)

Do you prefer the triangle over the compass? I took you test and here is where I ended up. https://crystalvulpine.github.io/PoliticalTriangle-old/results.html?left=2.78&right=7.22&lib=0&answers=l2r1r2r1r2l2r1r2r2r2l1

Just as a comparison, here is where I stand on the traditional 2D compass. https://www.politicalcompass.org/analysis2?ec=-5.13&soc=1.18

Given that I consider myself a conservative socialist, I expected to end up on the left. How do you define right and left?

[–]VulptexVoluntaryist 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (13 children)

My test looks for your overall attitude. You may be economically socialist, but you still favor forced hierarchy and are authright overall. Leftists favor forced equality or minority supremacy. Libertarians favor individual freedom.

I made it so it saves your answers in your results url, so if you want me to I can go over yours when I get the chance.

[–]IamCleaver[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (12 children)

Ok. This is interesting. So you apply the term "left" and "right" to all spheres of life, both economical and social?

[–]VulptexVoluntaryist 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (10 children)

It depends on which model we're talking about. On this one it's all about libertarian vs hierarchial vs communal.

[–]IamCleaver[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (9 children)

So, according to your model, can you be both communal and hierarchical without being libertarian?

[–]VulptexVoluntaryist 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (8 children)

Yes, that would place you at the bottom and in the middle.

[–]IamCleaver[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (7 children)

Which was exactly where I ended up... BTW, what do you mean by hierarchical?

[–]VulptexVoluntaryist 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (6 children)

Not quite. You were in the middle of the right side, not the whole authoritarian side ;)

[–]IamCleaver[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

True. Are you saying the bottom part is "authoritarian"? What does that mean?

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

i think it does come down to left or right brain hemisphere, whichever is dominant decides how people act in society