Often when we talk about politics, we hear the terms “left-wing” and “right-wing”, but what are they?
These two terms describe the characteristics of ideologies and their policies and are the two sides traditional politics are structured upon.
Let’s start from the economic side. Usually, right-wing economic policy encourages individuals to do business through lower taxes and tries to let the market “do its thing” by removing regulations and bureaucracy. Moreover, the right advocates for less spending, less social programs and as little state intervention in the economy as possible. From an economic point of view, it puts the emphasis on the individual and lets the private sector develop.
On the other side, we have the left, who advocates for more control from the state to prevent monopoly and abuses of power, while spending more and ensuring more services for the citizens.
Now, on the social level, the left tends to be more progressive and inclusive, while the right is usually more conservative and reluctant to social change. The left usually advocates for LGBT rights, the inclusion of minorities and openness towards migrants, while the left tends to be against an open immigration policy and in favour of religious values.
Another important difference between the left and the right when it comes to social issues is that the left tends to prioritize the group, sometimes to the disadvantage of the individual, while the right puts the interests.
These are the main differences, but it must be taken into account that the degree to which some of these policies are implemented depends from ideology to ideology and we might encounter political doctrines that combine both left-wing and right-wing policies or use a left-wing social policy in combination with a right-wing economic one.
The key to successful governance is a moderate approach to policy, regardless of whether it is right-wing or left-wing.
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