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Jun

11

Comparative Gov’t 101: How economic, governmental & political philosophies align


However you try to self-educate, though, I wouldn’t be listening to Glenn Beck if I were you, trying to figure them out.

First, you need to remember that economic theories, political ideologies and governmental structures each run along a continuum, or in a circle or along a spectrum.  But being “left” on one spectrum doesn’t mean you’re left on all – there are numerous combinations, obviously. 

Second, you need to remember that the word “Nazi” does not have some static meaning that everyone understands because it wasn’t a static concept – even if each of us thinks we know what someone “must” mean when they use the term, because it gets used in numerous ways. I think of “Hitler” “authoritarian” “ruled by intimidation” when the word is used. What about you?

Finally, the most useful tool I was ever taught, in regard to understanding political ideology in particular, was the circle, and that the more you move toward the top of the circle, the closer you are to going over “the other side.”

This interactive graphic (you can click in the quadrants and get explanations, including examples) is the best I’ve found that illustrates and offers explanations regarding the diffrerent combinations along the perimeter and moving in toward the center:

If you’ve got an alternative way for explaining the intersections and interplays between economic, governmental and political ideology, go for it in the comments.  But this circle thing has been around a long time, at least 30 years, when I was first studying political science.  I’m quite sure it didn’t get created just for me.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:13 pm June 11th, 2009 in Education, Government, Politics 

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