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Political Compass Quadrants

Authoritarian Left

Position: Economic left (collective ownership, redistribution) + Social authoritarian (state power, conformity)

Core Philosophy: Society should be organized collectively for the common good, with strong central authority to ensure equality and order. Individual desires are subordinate to collective welfare.

What They Value:

  • Economic equality enforced by the state
  • Public ownership of key industries
  • Strong social programs and safety nets
  • Collective action over individual pursuits
  • Revolutionary change when necessary

Common Critiques They Face:

  • Concentrates too much power in the state
  • Can suppress individual freedoms in pursuit of equality
  • Historical implementations have often become authoritarian
  • Economic planning can be inefficient

Archetypes:

  • State Socialist (moderate): Believes in government-led economic planning with democratic oversight
  • Marxist-Leninist (strong): Advocates revolutionary transformation through a vanguard party
  • Social Authoritarian (leaning): Supports strong welfare state with traditional social structures

Authoritarian Right

Position: Economic right (free markets, private property) + Social authoritarian (tradition, hierarchy, order)

Core Philosophy: Traditional institutions, national identity, and established hierarchies provide the stability society needs. Markets should be relatively free, but within a framework of shared cultural values.

What They Value:

  • National sovereignty and identity
  • Traditional family and religious values
  • Law and order, strong defense
  • Respect for established institutions
  • Earned success through competition

Common Critiques They Face:

  • Can exclude or marginalize minorities
  • May resist necessary social progress
  • Can conflate tradition with oppression
  • Sometimes prioritizes order over justice

Archetypes:

  • Conservative (moderate): Values tradition, gradual change, and proven institutions
  • Nationalist (strong): Prioritizes national interest and cultural preservation
  • Traditionalist (leaning): Emphasizes religious or cultural values in public life

Libertarian Left

Position: Economic left (redistribution, collective ownership) + Social libertarian (personal freedom, anti-authority)

Core Philosophy: People should be free from both corporate exploitation and state oppression. Economic democracy and personal liberty go hand in hand. Power should be decentralized.

What They Value:

  • Personal autonomy and civil liberties
  • Worker ownership and economic democracy
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Social justice without state coercion
  • Grassroots organization over hierarchy

Common Critiques They Face:

  • Can be idealistic about human nature
  • Economic models may be impractical at scale
  • Anti-authority stance can make coordination difficult
  • Sometimes fragmented by internal disagreements

Archetypes:

  • Social Democrat (leaning): Supports strong welfare state with robust civil liberties
  • Democratic Socialist (moderate): Advocates worker ownership with decentralized power
  • Libertarian Socialist (strong): Envisions stateless socialism with voluntary cooperation
  • Green/Eco-Socialist (moderate): Combines environmental focus with economic justice

Libertarian Right

Position: Economic right (free markets, minimal regulation) + Social libertarian (personal freedom, limited government)

Core Philosophy: Individual liberty is paramount. Government should be minimal—protecting property rights and enforcing contracts, but otherwise leaving people alone to make their own choices.

What They Value:

  • Individual freedom and responsibility
  • Free markets and voluntary exchange
  • Limited government intervention
  • Property rights and contract law
  • Personal choice in all matters

Common Critiques They Face:

  • Markets can create inequality and exploitation
  • Minimal government may not protect the vulnerable
  • Can undervalue collective action and public goods
  • "Freedom" can mean freedom for the powerful

Archetypes:

  • Classical Liberal (leaning): Supports free markets with basic safety nets and civil liberties
  • Libertarian (moderate): Advocates minimal government across economic and social spheres
  • Minarchist (strong): Wants government limited to courts, police, and defense
  • Anarcho-Capitalist (extreme): Envisions stateless society with private everything

Centrist / Moderate

Position: Near the origin on both axes—no strong pull toward any quadrant

Core Philosophy: Different issues call for different solutions. Ideology should not override pragmatism. The best policies draw from multiple perspectives.

What They Value:

  • Pragmatic problem-solving
  • Compromise and coalition-building
  • Evidence-based policy
  • Incremental improvement over revolution
  • Balance between competing values

Common Critiques They Face:

  • Can seem unprincipled or wishy-washy
  • May avoid necessary systemic change
  • Centrism can favor status quo
  • "Both sides" framing can create false equivalence

Archetypes:

  • Pragmatist (true center): Evaluates each issue independently
  • Moderate Liberal (slight lib-left lean): Generally progressive but cautious
  • Moderate Conservative (slight auth-right lean): Generally traditional but open to change
  • Technocrat (center): Prioritizes expertise and efficiency over ideology

Famous Figure Positions

Use these as reference points when presenting results. Positions are approximate and based on stated views and policies.

Authoritarian Left Region

  • Joseph Stalin (extreme auth-left)
  • Mao Zedong (extreme auth-left)
  • Fidel Castro (strong auth-left)
  • Hugo Chávez (moderate auth-left)

Authoritarian Right Region

  • Augusto Pinochet (strong auth-right)
  • Margaret Thatcher (moderate auth-right)
  • Ronald Reagan (moderate auth-right)
  • Viktor Orbán (moderate auth-right)

Libertarian Left Region

  • Noam Chomsky (strong lib-left)
  • Bernie Sanders (moderate lib-left)
  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (moderate lib-left)
  • Nelson Mandela (moderate lib-left)
  • The Dalai Lama (leaning lib-left)
  • Green parties (moderate lib-left)

Libertarian Right Region

  • Milton Friedman (moderate lib-right)
  • Ron Paul (strong lib-right)
  • Ayn Rand (strong lib-right)
  • Gary Johnson (moderate lib-right)
  • Friedrich Hayek (moderate lib-right)

Centrist Region

  • Barack Obama (slight lib-left of center)
  • Angela Merkel (slight auth-right of center)
  • Emmanuel Macron (near center, slight lib-right)
  • Tony Blair (near center, slight lib-left)

Presenting Comparisons

When sharing famous figure comparisons:

  1. Pick 2-3 figures near the user's position
  2. Acknowledge limitations: "These are rough approximations—political views are complex"
  3. Offer range: Include one closer to center and one more toward the extreme
  4. Avoid triggering figures: If Stalin or Pinochet would be accurate, frame carefully: "Historically, this region includes [X], though you're likely closer to [less extreme figure]"

Example presentation:
"Your position (-4.2, -6.1) puts you in the Libertarian Left quadrant, similar to where Bernie Sanders and Noam Chomsky land. You're a bit more libertarian than Sanders, closer to the anti-authoritarian tradition of democratic socialism."