The Political Spectrum

A society can either be free or equal, but it cannot be both.

OK, You have probably always wondered what this left wing, right wing thing is all about. Well, you are about to find out.

King Louis XVI

The Right:Supporters of the existing order, monarchists

The Left:Advocates of radical change, republicans

The terms “Left” and “Right” originate from the seating of the members of the newly elected French Legislative Assembly in 1791 – during the French Revolution

Legislative Assembly

LEFT WING

• More liberal• Support change in order to improve welfare of all citizens• Government should play a larger role in people’s lives

(social services, benefits)• Law and order are important to protect right of all citizens

fairly and equally• More freedom to individuals and less power to police

Take notes

CENTRE

• Tradition is important but change is supported if most people want it

• Government should play a role in that it improves the lives of citizens

• Law and order are important to encourage and protect right of individuals

Take notes

RIGHT WING• More conservative• Tradition is important and change should be

treated with caution• Government should play a small role• Private business should ensure needs of citizens

are met• Emphasis of law and order to protect society and

its traditions• Less freedom to individuals and more power to

police.

Take notes

Far Left Centre- Left Centre Centre- Right Far Right

Political spectrum: the standard linear model

Socialists Liberal Conservatives Ultraconservatives

Communists Liberals Conservatives Fascists

Radicals Reactionaries

Take notes

Political Parties

The House of Commons

Thomas Mulcair Stephen

Harper

The Green Party

Elizabeth May

Justin Trudeau

Daniel Paille

Christy Clark

Adrian Dix

Jane Sterk

John Cummins

Key Terms to KnowPolicy: A plan of action by a political party or government to achieve certain

goalsPlatform: A formal, written statement outlining the policies of a political partyPolitical Parties: Organized groups of people with common values or goals who

compete to get candidates elected and to form the government.Political Spectrum: A line showing the range of political beliefs from liberalism

(left) to conservatism (right)Interest Groups: Organizations of people who share social, political and other

goals and act together to influence governments. They may be local, national or international in scope.

Polls: a survey of public opinion, or a place where a voter goes to vote on election day

Referendum: A direct yes or no vote of the electorate on a specific issue, policy or law.

Youth Wings: Groups within political parties in which young members, including those under the voting age, can be active in forming policy and supporting party candidates.

The Political Spectrum• Your views on economic, social, and

religious issues has a direct impact upon the Political Party that you wish to support. For instance,

• Should the government censor the arts?• Should Marijuana be de-criminalized?• Should all Canadians receive equal

access to health care?• Should taxes be raised to pay for much

needed social programs?• Should money be redistributed from

the richer provinces to the poorer ones?

• Should same sex marriages be recognized?

The Political Spectrum

Anti-Globalization Rally

Supporter of the Gun Lobby

The Political Spectrum: Right Wing, Left Wing and Moderates

• When people describe their political views, they often refer to themselves as “Right wing” (Conservative), “left wing” (Liberal), or “moderate” (in the middle).

• How you place yourself on the Political Spectrum is based on your responses to Political issues.

• How do you know what you are?

Liberals• Liberals tend to hold the

following Political Views:• Government should be

heavily involved in the lives of citizens.

• Citizens should have equal opportunities through law (e.g. affirmative action programs)

• Strong support of social programs such as welfare, medicare and pensions

• Higher taxes to pay for social programs

• A small military

Conservatives• Conservatives tend to hold the

following views:• There should be minimal

government intervention in the economy

• Citizens should take greater responsibility for themselves

• They believe in traditional values (e.g. religious views on social issues)

• Lower taxes to increase global competitiveness

• There should be a strong military

The Political Spectrum

Place the Following on the Spectrum: Right, Left or Moderate?

Political Spectrum to Political Parties• Where you position

yourself on the political spectrum has a direct impact on your choice of political party.

• In Canada, “right wingers” tend to vote for the Conservative Party, “left wingers” the NDP and “moderates” the Liberal Party.

• Question: Would “liberals” vote for the Liberal Party?

Political Party Platforms• Each political party has their

own set of policies on a number of different issues:

• Health Care• Taxes/Government Spending• Social Welfare Programs• Social Issues (e.g.Same Sex

Marriage)• Job Creation/ Trade

Initiatives (e.g. Globalization, NAFTA)

• The Military (e.g. the War in Afghanistan)

Political Party Platforms• When a political party

presents their ideas before the electorate on a series of issues, they are said to be presenting their Political Platform.

• How do you win an election? • By presenting a political

platform that represents the views of the majority of the electorate (Canadians, Ontarians, Georgetownians?, etc)

Who would you vote for?

Political Party Platforms

The Conservative Party’s Platform

When you write the Political PlatformYou want to make sure that the policiesEnclosed reflect the prevailing interestsOf the majority of Canadians.A strong platform can win an election!

What else do you need for electoral success?

Who would you vote for? What is Charisma?

• For many, the main ingredient for electoral success is charisma; the ability to inspire the people to join you in a march towards greater prosperity.

• Who has Charisma?

Barack Obama

Hilary Clinton

Charisma

How do you define Charisma? Who has it? Who doesn’t? Do you need it to be successfulIn Politics?

Stephane Dion

Pierre Elliot Trudeau

How do Political Parties decide which policies to adopt?

• There are many different issues that Political Parties need to deal with:

• Health Care• The Environment• Taxes/Government Spending• Social Welfare Programs• Social Issues (e.g.Same Sex

Marriage)• Job Creation/ Trade Initiatives (e.g.

Globalization)• The Military (e.g. the War in

Afghanistan).• What should they do?

Trade issues are a hot topic!

Political Parties have to Address many issues in their Party Platforms

Health Care

The Environment

Political Parties have to Address many issues

Funding for Education

Legal Issues

Political Parties have to Address many issues

Social Welfare issues

Taxiation: Taxes are too high!!!

Political Parties have to Address many issues

• Military spending is always an important issue. For some, spending on infrastructure and Healthcare is more important than funding Canada’s military.

• For others, Canada’s lack of sufficient military spending has been an international embarrassment.

Who decides Policy?: Political Party Members

• Members of political parties play a key role in determining what will be included in their party’s platform.

• By voting at conventions, they make their voices heard. The candidates of the various parties understand what is popular on the convention floor. Members of the Conservative party

showing their support for Stephen Harper.How did he win the nomination to be leader?

Who decides Policy?: Political Party Members

These delegates support Stephane Dion. What policyDid Dion implement to get their support? Hint: Scarves

Who decides Policy?: International Pressures

• Canada’s largest trading partner is the United States.

• When you live next door to the world’s most powerful nation, you want to make sure that your policies do not have an adverse affect on the relationship.

• Hot topics include:• Trade (e.g. NAFTA)• Military Spending• Border Security (post 9/11)• Drug Policy (Marijuana Reform,

Pharmaceuticals)Canada/U.S. Relations

Who decides Policy?: International Pressures

• With respect to Foreign Policy, a Canadian Federal Party needs to recognize its international obligations; especially as a member of the NATO Alliance.

• Why did Canada get involved in the war in Afghanistan?

• A threat towards a NATO nation is a threat towards all.

• In other words, we’re going!

The NATO Alliance

Canada has extended its missionIn Afghanistan until 2011.

Did Stephen Harper have a choiceWhen his party adopted this policy Option?

Who decides Policy?: The Supreme Court

• When a political party adopts policies, it needs to make sure that those policies do not contradict the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• It would be very embarrassing for the government if one of their policies was struck down by the Supreme Court as “un-constitutional”

• A policy banning same sex marriage could be in violation of the Charter of Rights

The Supreme Court of Canada

Who decides Policy?: Interest Groups

• Interest groups try to influence policy makers to adopt laws in accordance with their views.

• Ducks Unlimited tries to influence environmental policies.

• The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) tries to influence trade policies (e.g. Nafta).

• Some interest groups are more effective than others. Why would this be the case?

Who decides Policy?: Interest Groups

• Some Interest Groups like the CFIB are very influencial with parties like the Conservative Party while groups like the CLC are popular with the NDP.

• However, some groups are so radical (contraversial) that main stream parties are afraid to take up their cause (e.g. GreenPeace).

• Can the tactics of Greenpeace still be effective? Is the support of the mainstream parties necessary?

The CFIB

Greenpeace making their point!

Who decides Policy?: You?

• Admittedly, it is difficult to affect government policies by yourself.

• However, you can make your voice heard in opinion polls (politicians care about these!)

• You can protest in the streets. If there is enough of you, they will care about that too!

Can you do in on your own?Opinion Polls

Interest Groups: Lobbyists• Lobbyists are paid by

corporations to influence public policy.

• For instance, if you are a company that wants low corporate taxes, you “lobby” the government for lower taxiation.

• If you want to secure a large government contract, you hire a lobbyist to “bend the ear” of the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet.

• Some Lobbyists are highly influencial; especially former prime ministers!

Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (left)Acted as a Lobbyist for Airbus CorporationRepresented by Karl-Heinz Schrieber (right)

Should Lobbying be legal?

Canada’s Political Parties• Based on

their Party Platforms, who would you vote for?

Remember: They want your Vote!• Although you need to be 18

to vote in Canadian Federal elections, the main political parties care about your opinions.

• Why is this so? Why are the “young liberals” so important to the Liberal Party of Canada?

• What role do you want to play in politics? Do you want to join a political party? Explain your answer!

The Liberal “Youth Wing”

What have we learned?

• Key Terms• The Political Spectrum• Mainstream Political Issues• Political Parties in Canada• Electoral Success• How to influence the Creation of Policies• How to become involved in politics.• Future Directions