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[[File:Political spectrum.png|thumb|Basic one-dimensional political spectrum]]
The '''left–right political spectrum''' is a diagram intended to categorise political ideologies in 3 distinct categories: [[Left-wing politics|left wing]], [[Right-wing politics|right wing]] and [[Centrism|centrist]]. The model has received criticism for being [[Idealism|idealist]], unscientific, subjective, and for ignoring [[historical materialism]] and [[class struggle]].
The '''left–right political spectrum''' is a diagram intended to categorize political ideologies in 3 distinct categories: [[Left-wing politics|left wing]], [[Right-wing politics|right wing]] and [[Centrism|centrist]]. The model has received criticism for being [[Idealism|idealist]], unscientific, subjective, and for ignoring [[historical materialism]] and [[class struggle]].{{Citation needed}}


There are successors or variations to the left-right spectrum, one of the most famous successors being the two-dimensional [[Political Compass|political compass]]. Variations of the one-dimensional spectrum include the horseshoe theory and the fish hook theory.
There are successors or variations to the left-right spectrum, one of the most famous successors being the [[Political Compass|political compass]]. Variations include the Horseshoe Theory and the Fish hook theory.
==History==
==History==
The methodology is derived from the time of the [[French Revolution|French Revolution of 1789]], when the newly formed National Constituent Assembly had been divided from left to right over time. The people in [[Republicanism|opposition]] to the [[Monarchism|monarchy]] sitting to the left and the monarchists sitting to the right. This evolved with the establishment and replacement of the National Assembly with the Legislative assembly in 1791. With new members and principles, however, the fundamental seating of ideological motives was maintained with the so-called “innovators” on the left, the “moderates” in the middle, and the “conservatives” on the right.{{Citation needed}}
The terms "left wing" and "right wing" derive from the [[French Revolution]], where [[Bourgeoisie|bourgeois]] revolutionaries sat on the left, while [[Monarchy|monarchists]] sat on the right.
 
==Description ==
==Description ==
The model is split into 3 categories (sometimes 2), the left wing, the right wing and the centrists. There can be also prefixes adjoined to the parts of the spectrum as 'far-left' or 'center-right' (not to be confused with centrist), which specify the location within the political spectrum. It is a visible one dimensional line going from left to right.
The model is split into 3 categories (sometimes 2), the left wing, the right wing and the centrists. There can be also prefixes adjoined to the parts of the spectrum as 'far-left' or 'center-right' (not to be confused with centrist), which specify the location within the political spectrum. It is a visible one dimensional line going from left to right.
===Left wing===
===Left wing===
The left wing broadly describes the [[Progressivism|progressives]] in a given society, from [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxism-Leninism]] to [[social democracy]], or the support of specific policies such as the support of [[LGBT+|LGBT]] rights in the [[United States of America|USA]].{{Citation needed}}
{{Main article|Left-wing politics}}The Left Wing is described is either of two things, depending on what region you live in. In the US, the left wing is described as something who supports more progressive policies such as [[LGBT+|LGBT]] rights, and Abortion. In other regions of the world like Europe, the left wing is used to describe those who support either social welfare or [[Anti-capitalism|anti-capitalist]] policies.
 
===Right wing===
===Right wing===
The right wing describes as those who oppose progress or actively support [[Reactionary|reaction]]. It may refer to several political ideologies, extending from [[libertarianism]] to [[fascism]].{{Citation needed}}
{{Main article|Right-wing politics}}The Right Wing is usually described as those who oppose progress, and those who support reactionaries. They also typically support less intervention in the government, lower taxes and capitalist policies and economics.
 
===Centrist===
===Centrist===
No to be confused with apolitical and moderate, centrists are typically people who support (and somewhat oppose) both stances, sometimes rejecting one idea of the part over another or choosing neither. In practice, they uphold the [[Imperialism|status quo]] and thereby overlap with the right wing.{{Citation needed}}
No to be confused with apolitical and moderate, they are typically people who support (and somewhat oppose) both stances, sometimes rejecting one idea of the part over another or choosing neither.
 
==Variations ==
==Variations ==
===Horseshoe theory ===
===Horseshoe Theory ===
[[File:Horseshoe theory.png|thumb]]
The Horseshoe Theory is an adaptation of the Left-Right Spectrum, where the furthest left and the furthest right points are brought closer together in the form of a 'horseshoe' shape, to state that the far-left is similar or identical to the [[Far-right politics|far-right]]. This is despite the fact that historical materialism refutes this, as the far-left are often anti-fascist and fought nations such as [[German Reich (1933–1945)|Nazi Germany]].
The horseshoe theory is an adaptation of the left-right spectrum, where the furthest left and the furthest right points are brought closer together in the form of a 'horseshoe' shape, to state that the far-left is similar or identical to the [[Far-right politics|far-right]] but both are different from [[Liberalism|liberals]].<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=Rachel Nagant|newspaper=[[Red Clarion]]|title=Debunking 10 Common Misconceptions of Communism|date=2023-07-05|url=https://clarion.unity-struggle-unity.org/10-misconceptions-of-communism/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708182606/https://clarion.unity-struggle-unity.org/10-misconceptions-of-communism/|archive-date=2023-07-08}}</ref> This is despite the fact that historical materialism refutes this, as the far-left are [[Anti-fascism|anti-fascist]] and [[Second World War|fought]] countries such as [[German Reich (1933–1945)|Nazi Germany]].
===Fish Hook Theory ===
 
The Fish Hook Theory is an adaptation of the Left-Right Spectrum where the far-right is shaped towards the center, in the shape of a 'hook', to state that old sayings such as 'Scratch a liberal, a fascist bleeds'. This is more accurate, however, this falls apart due to subjectivity and its unscientific nature.
===Fish hook theory ===
[[File:Fish hook theory.png|thumb]]
The fish hook theory is an adaptation of the left-right spectrum where the far-right is curved towards the center, in the shape of a 'hook', to state that old sayings such as 'Scratch a liberal, a fascist bleeds'. This view is more accurate but still falls apart due to its subjectivity and unscientific nature.{{Citation needed}}
 
==Criticism ==
==Criticism ==
===Subjective ===
===Subjective ===
The left-right spectrum changes varies based on region. In the United States, [[Social democracy|social democrats]] are considered 'far-left' and Liberals are considered 'Left-Wing' whilst Conservatives are considered 'Center-Right'.
The Left-Right Spectrum changes depending on which region you live in. In the [[United States of America|United States]], [[Social democracy|Social Democrats]] are considered 'far-left' and Liberals are considered 'Left-Wing' whilst Conservatives are considered 'Center-Right'.


In the case of the [[UK]] for example, Liberals are considered 'Center-Right', and Social Democracies are considered 'center-left' whilst socialists are considered 'far-left'.{{Citation needed}}
In the case of the [[UK]] for example, Liberals are considered 'Center-Right', and Social Democracies are considered 'center-left' whilst socialists are considered 'far-left'.
===Unscientific ===
===Unscientific ===
The political spectrum attempts to place different [[Mode of production|modes of production]] on a single scale even though they are qualitatively different. It defines ideologies based on a numerical difference in the size or power of the [[state]], which may be useful for comparing different forms of [[capitalism]] such as [[neoliberalism]] and [[John Maynard Keynes|Keynesianism]] but cannot accurately portray the differences between [[socialism]] and capitalism or capitalism and [[feudalism]].<ref name=":0" />
The Left-Right Spectrum is criticised for not being scientific, as you cannot draw conclusions due to its subjectivity. There is also no consensus on how to measure the ideologies based on a certain factor, note that the left-right spectrum relies on one value more often than not to be considered scientific.
 
===Ahistorical===
== References ==
It is an absolutist model, putting ideologies in a vacuum, as some models include "Monarchism" as a 'far-right' ideology, despite monarchism being obsolete for decades.
[[Category:Pages needing references]]
[[Category:Pages needing references]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Politics]]
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