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The earliest known left-right classification was that of the [[National Assembly]] in [[France]] just before the [[French Revolution]].  Members who supported the monarchy, would sit towards the right. Those who had been offended by their own party would frequently stand up and walk over to the other side of the hall in order to make a political statement.   

The earliest known left-right classification was that of the [[National Assembly]] in [[France]] just before the [[French Revolution]].  Members who supported the monarchy, would sit towards the right. Those who had been offended by their own party would frequently stand up and walk over to the other side of the hall in order to make a political statement.   

Historian [[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.]] has said the spectrum theory was "adequate to the political simplicities of the nineteenth century, when the Right meant those who wished to preserve the existing order and the Left meant those who wished to change it. But the twentieth century, here as elsewhere, introduced new ambiguities." <ref>[http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/schlesinger-notrightleft.html Not Right, Not Left, But a Vital Center], [[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.]], ''New York Times Magazine'', April 4, 1948.</ref>

Historian [[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.]] has said the spectrum theory was "adequate to the political simplicities of the nineteenth century, when the Right meant those who wished to preserve the existing order and the Left meant those who wished to change it. But the twentieth century, here as elsewhere, introduced new ambiguities." <ref>[http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/schlesinger-notrightleft.html Not Right, Not Left, But a Vital Center], [[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.]], ''New York Times Magazine'', April 4, 1948.</ref> In modern times, the left emphasizes [[collectivism|collective]] wisdom as a guiding force (see [[planned economy]]), while the right emphasizes individual rights.

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

The original definition referred to Church and State issues from the late 18th century Enlightenment period. At its root was faith vs. rationalism, or the Church vs. [[secularism]]. The so-called "right", defined as "traditional interests" referred to the Church & monarchy who ruled by the [[Divine right of kings]], and the so-called "left" constituted secular elements challenging the Church's long-held influence over civil government.  These definitions have always been problematic when attempting to assign Western notions of "left and right" to societies which traditionally have no conception of separation of church and states, such as in Islam <ref>[http://nobsopus.blogspot.com/1993/11/political-career-of-muhammad.html The Political Career of Muhammad], Arnold Toynbee, ''A Study of History'' Annex II TO III. C. (ii) (b) p. 466.</ref> or Czarist Russia.

The original definition referred to Church and State issues from the late 18th century Enlightenment period. At its root was faith vs. rationalism, or the Church vs. [[secularism]]. The so-called "right", defined as "traditional interests" referred to the Church & monarchy who ruled by the [[Divine right of kings]], and the so-called "left" constituted secular elements challenging the Church's long-held influence over civil government.  These definitions have always been problematic when attempting to assign Western notions of "left and right" to societies which traditionally have no conception of separation of church and states, such as in Islam <ref>[http://nobsopus.blogspot.com/1993/11/political-career-of-muhammad.html The Political Career of Muhammad], Arnold Toynbee, ''A Study of History'' Annex II TO III. C. (ii) (b) p. 466.</ref> or Czarist Russia.

The monarchy and titled nobility became known as the "right"; this idea however has been disabused in the United States where a landlord class of titled nobles never existed, and in fact is specifically prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.  Hence Europeans today, based upon their own cultural idioms and history, have an extremely discolored view of what  the "American right" is.   

The monarchy and titled nobility became known as the "right"; this idea however has been disabused in the United States where a landlord class of titled nobles never existed, and in fact is specifically prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.  Hence Europeans today, based upon their own cultural idioms and history, have an extremely discolored view of what  the "American right" is.   

Another common misperception is, while the "right" has become identified with defending and advocating [[Judeo-Christian]] values, [[secular]] [[atheist]] mass movements such as [[National Socialism]] are often either mistakenly or deliberately labeled as [[right-wing]]. This fallacy has been particularly well illustrated in our own time by examining the modern [[fascist]] [[Ba'athist]] [[regime]]s of [[Iraq]] and [[Syria]]. Both have their roots in the anti-clerical influences of Western [[Socialism]] against fundamentalist [[Islam]], and inherently promote "change" against oppressive religious [[theocracy]].

Another common misperception is, while the "right" has become identified with defending and advocating [[Judeo-Christian]] values, [[secular]] [[atheist]] mass movements such as [[National Socialism]] are often either mistakenly or deliberately labeled as [[right-wing]]. This fallacy has been particularly well illustrated in our own time by examining the modern [[fascist]] [[Ba'athist]] [[regime]]s of [[Iraq]] and [[Syria]]. Both have their roots in the anti-clerical influences of Western [[Socialism]] against fundamentalist [[Islam]], and inherently promote "change" against oppressive religious [[theocracy]].<ref>[http://www.ozconservative.com/whatisconsshort.htm What is conservatism?]{{user:Yoahan}}, Mark Richardson</ref>

The "left" is often described as advocating "change" of traditional systems and institutions of a society, however the leftist regimes of [[Cuba]] and [[North Korea]] stoutly resist changes other leftist regimes abandoned 20 years ago after seven decades of stagnation and exploitation of the oppressed common people by a privileged leftist ruling elite.

The "left" is often described as advocating "change" of traditional systems and institutions of a society, however the leftist regimes of [[Cuba]] and [[North Korea]] stoutly resist changes other leftist regimes abandoned 20 years ago after seven decades of stagnation and exploitation of the oppressed common people by a privileged leftist ruling elite.

==Origins==

==Origins==

At the time of the [[French Revolution]], when the existing order, or ''[[Ancien Regime]]'' had been overthrown, the idea of [[nationalism]] did not exist throughout most of [[Europe]].  During the violent years of 1793 and 1794 in France, a love of the ''Patrie'', or the nation, was cultivated to replace the foundations upon which [[society]] had been built under the old order.  Under the stimulus of this movement for national unification, Catholicism was faced with the competition of a worship of national patriotism.  [[Nationalism]] grew out of this new will to construct and shape the political community. <ref>John Hall Stewart, ''A Documentary Survey of the French Revolution'' (Macmillan, New York, 1963). </ref><ref>David A. Bell, ''The Cult of the Nation in France: Inventing Nationalism, 1680-1800'', (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2001). [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_1_37/ai_109668489]</ref>   

At the time of the [[French Revolution]], when the existing order, or ''[[Ancien Regime]]'' had been overthrown, the idea of [[nationalism]] did not exist throughout most of [[Europe]].  During the violent years of 1793 and 1794 in France, a love of the ''Patrie'', or the nation, was cultivated to replace the foundations upon which [[society]] had been built under the old order.  Under the stimulus of this movement for national unification, Catholicism was faced with the competition of a worship of national patriotism.  [[Nationalism]] grew out of this new will to construct and shape the political community. <ref>John Hall Stewart, ''A Documentary Survey of the French Revolution'' (Macmillan, New York, 1963). </ref><ref>David A. Bell, ''The Cult of the Nation in France: Inventing Nationalism, 1680-1800'', (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2001). [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_1_37/ai_109668489]</ref>   

==Notes==

==Notes==

 

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==See also==

==See also==