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| | Nationalism can be defined as pride in one's native language and culture. Socialist theoriticians, wanting to overthrow the exisitng order, stirred up nationalist resentment among the minorities within the larger German, Russian, and Austro-Hungarian Empires. By the twentieth century, [[V.I. Lenin]] insisted on the right of subjugated peoples to break away from the great empires. Once the [[Bolsheviks]] were in power in Russia however, any attempt on the part of the subjugated peoples to break away from the Socialist Union of nations was considered counter-revolutionary activity. <ref>J. L. Talmon, ''The Unique and the Universal'', Secker & Warburg, London 1965. </ref> | | Nationalism can be defined as pride in one's native language and culture. Socialist theoriticians, wanting to overthrow the exisitng order, stirred up nationalist resentment among the minorities within the larger German, Russian, and Austro-Hungarian Empires. By the twentieth century, [[V.I. Lenin]] insisted on the right of subjugated peoples to break away from the great empires. Once the [[Bolsheviks]] were in power in Russia however, any attempt on the part of the subjugated peoples to break away from the Socialist Union of nations was considered counter-revolutionary activity. <ref>J. L. Talmon, ''The Unique and the Universal'', Secker & Warburg, London 1965. </ref> |
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| | + | ==Modern use== |
| | + | The Left/Right scale is a misleading way of comparing political systems. People use the Left/Right approach out of habit, but it leads to confusion. For example, [[Fascism]] is often placed on the Right and [[Socialism]] on the Left. Yet fascism is [[National Socialist German Workers Party|"National" Socialism]]. Indeed, the left/right scale is just an obsolete reference to the seating arrangement of the French Assembly in the 1790's. <ref>[http://www.lairdwilcox.com/ Beyond Left/Right] |
| | + | by Marshall Fritz, 1987. Retrieved from lairdwicklox.com 05/25/07. </ref> In 1970, Denver advertising executive David Nolan invented the Nolan Chart to overcome the weakness of the outdated Left/Right political spectrum. |
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| | + | The "Economic" category includes what you do as a producer and consumer. These are your actions that can be described in money. Examples are earning a wage, buying a car, renting a motorhome. |
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| | + | The "Civil" (or personal) category includes what you do in relationships and expresing yourself. These actions are NOT measured in money. Examples are the way you worship God, or don't; what books or magazines give you pleasure; your personal tradeoffs between today's fun and tomorrow's health. The Bill of Rights is aimed at your freedoms in this category. |
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| | + | Nolan saw how political families can be understood by the degree of INDIVIDUAL choice they offer in these categories. You can use this improved way of mapping political thought to better understand your local, national and international political environment. |
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| | + | Left/Liberals like personal choice in civil matters and central decision-making in economics. They want government to serve the disadvantaged and promote equality. Left/Liberals place high value on good intentions. They accept diversity in social behavior but seek more equality in economics. They work with Libertarians in defending civil liberties and with Socialists in advancing economic central planning. |
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| | + | Right/Conservatives like personal choice in economics and central decision-making in civil matters. They want government to defend the community from threats to it's moral fiber. Right/Conservatives place high value on laws and legislation. They accept diversity in economics but seek similarity in social behavior. They work with Libertarians in defending economic freedoms and with Populists in enforcing community standards in social matters. |
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| | + | Socialists & [[Populist]]s favor central decision-making in both civil and economic matters. They believe the needs of the individual are subordinate to the needs of society. They want government to "correct wrongs." While they strongly differ on particular programs, both prefer equality in economic and personal matters. |
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| | + | Classical Liberals/Libertarians like personal choice in both civil and economic matters. They believe government's only purpose is to safeguard people from coercion and violence. They value individual responsibility and tolerance. Libertarians accept diversity in both social behavior and in economic situation. |
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| | + | Centrists favor selective governmental intervention and temporary affiliations with others. They take a strong stance on few issues, prefering the middle position in most matters. Centrists emphasize practical solutions to current public issues. |
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| | ==Notes== | | ==Notes== |