Macro Political Spectrum

What is a Political Spectrum?• It’s a way to measure, classify, and compare

different political systems or thoughts.

Why will this be a Macro Political Spectrum?

• Macro means that we will be looking at the BIG picture, in this case the different political systems in the world.

The Macro Political Spectrum

Radical Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary

Conservative (Macro)

Moderate Conservative Reactionary

Most Important Value: Security

Based On: Thomas Hobbes’ Justification

Type of Government: Authoritarian

Types Seen in the World1. Monarchy (Morocco)2. Dictatorship (China)

3. Junta (Burma)

Differences in Authoritarian Governments

• In all authoritarian governments, all governmental power (legislative, executive, judicial) is in the hands of one person or group.

• Differences are just superficial

Monarch Dictator Junta

Reactionary (Macro)

Conservative Reactionary

Most Important Value: Control

Based On: Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative

Type of Government: Totalitarian

Historical Examples1. Nazi Germany2. Stalinist Russia

3. The Taliban

Authoritarian vs. Totalitarian

Authoritarian

• One political view allowed (Government controls your political life)

• Controlled Economy (Government controls your economic life)

Totalitarian

• One political view allowed (Government controls your political life)

• Controlled Economy (Government controls your economic life)

• State religion or lack of one (Government controls your spiritual life)

• Mandated Government Activities (Government controls your social life)

Examples

Hitler Youth Movement Stalin’s Great Purges Taliban’s Sharia Law

Liberal (Macro)

Radical Liberal Moderate

Most Important Value: Protect Liberty

Based on: John Locke’s Social Contract

Type of Government: Constitutional Democracy

Types Seen in the World1. Presidential Leadership (U.S.)

2. Parliamentary Leadership (U.K. and others)

Presidential Leadership

PresidentHouse of Representatives Senate

Legislative Branch Executive Branch

The Voters

Parliamentary Leadership

Prime MinisterHouse of Commons House of Lords

Legislative Branch Executive Branch

The Voters

(Appointed)

What difference does it make?Presidential Leadership

If we were Parliamentary…

House of Representatives Senate President

House of Representatives

Senate President

Presidential leadership can result in…Mixed Government

A government in which the different branches of government are controlled by opposing political parties. Results in both gridlock (lack of things

being done) and compromise (since both parties must take each other into account)

Parliamentary leadership always results in…Unified Government

A government in which all branches of the government are controlled by the same political party. Results in a more efficient government (more things get passed) and perhaps more extreme government (since needs

of the other party aren’t always taken into account)

Moderate (Macro)

Liberal Moderate Conserv.

Constitutional Monarchy

Socialist Democracy

Executive is a hereditary monarch.But power limited by constitution. Democratically

elected Legislature.

Democratically elected executive and legislature.Government owns some major industry (energy, health

care, etc.)

Radical (Macro)

LiberalRadical

Anarchy

Most Important Value: Total Freedom

A Brief Word on AnarchyThe Easiest and Most Entertaining Way to Learn About Anarchy is …..

The Macro Political Spectrum

Radical Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary

Anarchy Con. Democracy Mixed Gov. Authoritarian Totalitarian

As we move from left to right on the scale what increases?

As we move from right to left on the scale what increases?

ControlFreedom

Government Control

Individual Freedom

Things To Look Out For

The Political Spectrum is a valuable tool…HOWEVER….1) It represents the “ideal” system… in reality

different forms of government never are 100% matches to the scale.

2) It can limit our thinking by putting “labels” on things and defining those “categories”