I completely concur that the typical right/left distinction is un-illuminating and defunct, for example Jan Lester explains why Libertarians aren't right wing.
Personality tests are always fun, and it was interesting to see that I'm less of an extemist than Steve! However the political compass seems to be a little arbitrary, and lacking in substance.
As an economist, I prefer to see how people behave, rather then ask them how they would behave in hypothetical situations. I also think such an all-encompasing theory must rely on more solid foundations. To this end, I have explored the "grid-group" format for mapping political views, and how it dictates preference formation and notions of the environment, and the market economy.
In brief, the horizonatal axis measures the degree to which one is part of a bounded unit, whilst the vertical axis charts the social limits to behaviour. It stems from assumption that needs and resources are both culturally defined, and there's four possible ways to manage them.
What results is the 'individualist', the 'fatalist', the 'egalitarian' and the 'hierarchist', and the stability of the overall political system depends on the dynamic and constant change of people between these typologies. Rather like a flock of starlings.
Download "Culture for economics", and please email me with any comments.
To find out how Anthony fits in with other globally known figures (and me...), click here.
Posted by: SL | April 02, 2004 at 11:29 PM
who's Paul Martin?
anyway, I think i fell off the scale and came back round the other side...
Posted by: AJE | April 03, 2004 at 08:39 AM