Left and right wing beliefs

Question 1

Right wing ideas tend to be traditional. What does this mean?

Answer 1

They focus on preserving the system that currently works, as well as upholding the current values present in society

Question 2

What do those with a right wing view believe about the economy?

Answer 2

Believe it should be left alone without government interfernce. They think that businesses should be left to enjoy as much freedom as possible, and the economy should be enjoyed by the successful

Question 3

What do right wingers think policies should ultimately do?

Answer 3

Allow individuals to prosper

Question 4

What do left wing ideas focus on?

Answer 4

Progressivism and change

Question 5

What do left wingers believe about the economy?

Answer 5

That it should be shared by all

Question 6

What do left wingers believe about state intervention?

Answer 6

A government should intervene in business and society in order to ensure fairness and equality

Question 7

What do left wingers believe policy should do?

Answer 7

Help, support and fulfil individuals

Question 8

Ultimate goal?

Answer 8

Left - personal freedom
Right - economic freedom

Question 9

Military stance?

Answer 9

Left - doveish
Right - hawkish

Question 10

Define left-wing

Answer 10

A widely used term for those who desire change, reform and alteration to the way society operates. This involves radical criticisms of capitalism made by modern liberal and socialist parties

Question 11

Define right-wing

Answer 11

Reflects support for the status quo, little or no change, stressing the need for order, stability and hierarchy; generally relevant to conservative parties

Question 12

Why should the terms left-wing and right-wing be treated with caution?

Answer 12

They are not very precise expressions and extremely vague; so it is best to avoid them for the sake of clarity. What constitutes left and right wing will also vary from one country to another

Question 13

Give an example of an issue that does not fall easlily into the left right spectrum

Answer 13

Environmental issues

Question 14

Describe the left wing view on economic and trade

Answer 14

State economic planning and nationalisation of the major industries. State regulation of large industries that exploit consumers or empoyers. Relaxed approach government borrowing; much state investment in infrastructure. Anti-EI

Question 15

Describe the centrist view on economic and trade

Answer 15

• Largely free market economy with some state regulation
• Keynesian approach to government borrowing to stimulate the economy
• Pro free-trade
• Pro-EU and in favour of the ‘soft Brexit’ option

Question 16

Describe the right wing view on economics and trade

Answer 16

• Support totally free markets
• No state intervention in the economy
• Very low levels of taxation
• Avoid government borrowing to stimulate the economy
• Protectionism for domesticc industries
• Anti-EU and in favour of the ‘hard Brexit’ option

Question 17

Describe the left wing view on income and employment

Answer 17

• Redistribution of income to create more economic equality
• Strong trade unions and protected workers rights
• Protectionism for domestic industries

Question 18

Describe the centrist view on income and employment

Answer 18

• Mild redistribution of income, with some poverty relief

Question 19

Describe the right wing view on income and employment

Answer 19

• Free labour markets with weak protection for workers

Question 20

Describe the left wing view on social issues

Answer 20

• Strong support for the welfare state
• Stress equal rights and protection for minority groups
• Tolerance for alternative lifestyles
• Liberal attitude to crime and its remedies

Question 21

Describe the centrist view on social issues

Answer 21

• Welfare state to concentrate on the most needy
• Support for multiculturalism
• Liberal attitude to minor crime but a hard line on serious crime
• State should promote individualism

Question 22

Describe the right wing view on social issues

Answer 22

• A more limited welfare state, with caps on the ammount of money available to go to families and tougher criteria for the claiming of benefits
• Anti-immigration and therefore in favour of strict border controls
• Opposed to multiculturalism
• Traditional attitude to moral and lifesttyle issues
• Stress on patriotism and the national interests