Exploring the Political Spectrum

1. Exploring the Political Spectrum Internet Activity

2. Minds On Activity • As a start point for this lesson. Look at the intro slides that briefly explain the viewpoints on the sides or wings of the spectrum, and the viewpoints of the Y axis on the compass and put an x on the quadrant where you predict you will fit according to 3 quizzes you will be completing. Where do I think I fit on the spectrum ?

3. The Political Compass Authoritarian 1.click on each term for more info 2. When finished predict where you will fit & move on Left Wing Right Wing Moderate 3. move on Libertarian

4. Authoritarian • favouring absolute obedience to authority, against individual freedom: an authoritarian regime. • In terms of the political compass this is the position that government should control everything for the good of all; with the thinking that individuals will not be able to look after the needs of the majority click to read each point then go back go back

5. Libertarian • 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. • In terms of the political compass this is the position that government should control nothing for the good of all; with the thinking that individuals will be able to look after their own needs of the majority go back click to read each point then go back

6. click to read each point then go back Liberalism - Left Wing • a political ideology that is against economic & social inequality. • Equality of opportunity is viewed by liberals as essential, and to achieve it, they believe that discriminatory practices must be stopped. Liberals usually advocate vigorous public policies to reduce or eliminate these inequalities. They see government as the means to make this possible, while also preserving civil liberties/rights, and progressive values. • Liberals believe that public policy should be egalitarian (equal for all) and that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure ALL citizens have access to affordable health care, quality education, a clean environment, and social safety net programs. • They also generally believe in affirmative action programs, workers’ health and safety protections, progressive taxation, and unions’ rights to organize and strike. go back

7. The Moderate 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 or vice verse. go back click to read each point then go back

8. click to read each point then go back Conservatism - Right Wing • a general preference for the existing order of society and an opposition to most efforts to bring about rapid or fundamental change. • In contrast to liberals, conservatives want to enhance individual liberty by keeping government small, except in the area of national defense. • Conservatives maintain that people need strong leadership institutions, firm laws, and strict moral codes. Conservative ideologies often base their claims on the teachings of religion and traditional morality and tend to downplay social theories put forward by secular philosophers, economists, and other intellectuals. • They also prefer stopping abortion, stopping affirmative action programs, and stopping labour unions. • More extreme conservative ideologies accept all (or nearly all) of society’s inequalities of wealth, status, and privilege, often supporting a return to an earlier, more inegalitarian (unequal), and hierarchical political-economic order. go back

9. Action • This lesson is based on 3 different quizzes that will help you to see where you fit on the spectrum or compass. • Political Spectrum Work Sheet package 20 questions • Political Compass Test on line @ www.politicalcompass.org 62 questions • CBC New Vote Compass –Ontario Votes @ http://www.cbc.ca/elections/ontariovotes2014/votecompass 30 questions Where do the quizzes say I fit ?

10. The Political Compass Test • to take the test go to https://www.politicalcompass.org/test/ • it is six pages long, and there is a support package that helps to explain what some of the questions mean. • when you finish the survey you will be given a very important graph that shows where you fit on the compass or axis. Right click that image, select save, and save it to your H drive. • print this graph as well. • the next slides (11 through 16) are connected to The Political Compass analysis and should be referred to after you take the test and be used for the written portion of this activity.

11. The Political Compass Concept • some feel that the Political Spectrum that just goes from left to right is not adequate. • it is mostly an economic scale. • for example, Stalin and Mao Tse Tung, with their commitment to a totally controlled economy, fit on the hard left. A socialist like Mahatma Gandhi would take a less extreme leftist position. George Bush would be well over to the right. • the social dimension is also important in politics and some feel that the left-right scale doesn't adequately measure this. • a Y axis was added ranging in positions from extreme authoritarian to extreme libertarian.

12. Both an economic dimension and a social dimension are important factors for a proper political analysis. American 2016 Presidential Candidates Canada 2015 Election Parties

13. SOME INTERNATIONAL EXAMPLES…

14. Capitalism • 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.

15. Socialism • 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.

16. Communism • 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 being bought and sold in a free market.

17. What are The Issues? Economic Issues taxes business regulations subsidies price regulation government spending wealth distribution Moral & Social Issues criminal Law national defense morality abortion prison policies rights and liberties What position do you think the right and left wings would take on each of these? What about the authoritarian and libertarian? Check in with a peer.

18. Where do the parties fit? • CBC New Vote Compass –Ontario Votes @ http://www.cbc.ca/elections/ontariovotes2014/votecompass 30 questions • when you take this test, the results will connect you with a position on their version of the compass, and also, with the political parties that ran in the most recent Ontario provincial election • keep going until you see Your Results, use snipping tool, or screen capture or copy and paste, grab these results, save them to your H drive and print them off as well NOTE the y axis is different here than on the political compass

19. Where do I stand? Assignment… • Describe the compass itself, explain what is meant by right wing, left wing, authoritarian and libertarian (knowledge & understanding) • List or detail which ideologies, and which political parties apply to you based on each of the 3 test results? Include copies of your results from all three tests. (application) [hint don’t forget the Y axis] • Compare and contrast your actual results with the one you predicted. How correct were you? Describe whether or not you agree or disagree with the fit or place that each test has assigned you and explain in detail using personal examples that include at least one reference to economic issues and one to social issues, explain why you agree or disagree. (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)