This document provides an overview of different political ideologies and spectrums. It introduces the traditional left-right spectrum ranging from revolutionary to reactionary. It then discusses the political compass with four quadrants: authoritarian left, authoritarian right, libertarian right, and libertarian left. Key aspects of the major US political parties (Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Constitution, and Green) are positioned on these spectrums. The document concludes with an activity asking students to summarize what they learned.

1. Political Spectrum
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2. Ideology Quiz Debrief
 Did you learn anything about yourself while taking
the survey OR did any of you receive a label that
you do not agree fits you?
 Were there any issues that you really never gave
any thought about until asked?
 Was anyone shocked at the questions being asked,
or did the wording of the question irritate anyone?
 Did you find yourself putting these propositions in
the context of the bigger picture or did you only
consider the question at hand?
 Do you think that the label you have been given
now might change during the semester? Your first
few years in the real world? 20 years from now?2

3. Traditional Left-Right
Spectrum
Revolutionary Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary
 These are the terms you already looked up and
defined from the textbook.
 We will come back to this, but for now just know
this is the scale that political parties are typically
labeled on.
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4. Political Compass
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5. Authoritarian Left (red box)
 Government should closely regulate the economy and
individual behavior.
 Centralized planning of the economy, strict monitoring of
corporations and markets, and restriction of immoral
behaviors are the foundations of a strong, stable and
productive society.
 Economic liberty and individual freedom are not practical
options in today's world.
 Excess focus on civil liberties greatly impair the ability of the
society to discourage and restrict criminal behavior.
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6. Authoritarian Right (blue box)
 That the State exists to protect a society
 That the individual exists to protect, serve and obey the State
 That protecting the traditional family is the duty of the State
 That children should be raised to support and nurture the
State
 That markets should be free, as long as they serve the
interests of the State
 That the law binds a society and must be obeyed by all
individuals, without question
 That individual rights are not as important as the continuing
harmony of society
 That an orderly (sometimes regimented) society is of the
utmost importance
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7. Libertarian Right (purple box)
 Concerned more with economic freedoms
 Favorable towards a natural hierarchy
 See big business as a victim of the state
 Favor a strong national defense
 Oppose empire building
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8. Libertarian Left (green box)
 Concerned more with personal freedoms
 Favorable towards voluntary egalitarianism
 Egalitarianism – a system that promotes equality between
individuals. Now this can be political equality, where you are not
judged based on race, religion, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation,
political affiliation, socioeconomic status, (dis)ability or cultural
heritage OR social equality, where economic inequalities are
removed among people.
 Oppose big business
 Favor active intervention to protect liberty
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9. Review: Democratic Party
 Economic position – More authoritarian
 Government is more of a solution = Social
Security, greater regulation, progressive tax
system, unemployment compensation
 Social position - government can be a
solution on social problems, but do not
regulate private behavior
 Pro-choice, civil rights laws, defining hate crimes
public media support
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10. Democratic Party
Democrats?
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11. Review: Republican Party
 Economic position –
 Government is more of a problem = less
regulation, lower taxes (and more proportional)
 Social position - a blend depending on how
much influence “social conservatives” have
 Government is a problem unless enforcing
morality = let society work out social problems,
pro-life, decency laws
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12. Republican Party
Democrats Republicans?
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13. Review: Libertarian Party
 Government is a corrupting influence;
reactionary policies
 Limited government to protect against
invasion and to protect property rights
 Extremely low taxes, STRICT
CONSTRUCTION/literal interpretation of
Constitution - provide only those things the
Constitution specifically says
 Pro-choice, decriminalize drugs, no special
marriage laws
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14. Libertarian Party
Democrats Republicans
Libertarian?
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15. Review: Constitution Party
 Cross between Libertarian and Republican
on economics; government is the problem
 Socially more extreme of Republican
position; more moral/Christian values
imposed on society (pro-life, prayer in
school)
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16. Constitution Party
Democrats Republicans
Libertarian
Constitutional?
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17. Review: Green Party
 Economics - more government control
Much higher minimum wage, more
regulation, more progressive taxation
 Social - blend
More strongly held positions on civil rights,
pro-choice; but also drug decriminalization;
smaller military
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18. Green Party
Democrats Republicans
Libertarian
Constitutional
Green?
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19. Traditional Left-Right Spectrum
 Revolutionary (radical) – favors extreme change
to create an altered or entirely new social system.
 Liberal – believes that government must take
action to change economic, political, and ideological
policies thought to be unfair
 Moderate – Holds beliefs that fall between liberal
and conservative views, usually including some of
both.
 Conservative – seeks to keep in place the
economic, political, and social structures of society
 Reactionary – favors extreme change to restore
society to an earlier, more conservative state.19

20. Traditional Left-Right Spectrum
Revolutionary Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary
--------Democratic Party--------
-----Republican Party-----
-Libertarian Party-
-Constitution Party-
-Green Party-
How do you reconcile differences between Libertarian and
Constitution Parties? Similarities between Libertarians and
Greens?20

21. Which option do you prefer more?
Liberal Conservative
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22. Summary activity….(i.e. your
ticket out the door)
 Pull out a piece of notebook paper.
 Write down the following on that paper
 3 most important things learned during this block
 2 questions you still have about the material learned today
 1 way the information you learned today connects to
something you already knew
 On your way out, hand me your responses. DO NOT give
them to someone else to hand in…they will get lost and
you will lose points if I do not receive it before you leave!
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