Countries Moving Left or Right?

[PADem]

Here a short list of countries and the political direction I see them moving. Feel free to add to and correct what I'm saying

Australia ----> Right - 4th Term for PM Howard plus strong influence of Abbot (the conservative health minister)

Britain ----> Right, but slowly - reduced Majority for Blair, and calls for Brown to take over

U.S.A ----> Not moving, has been moving right over the past 20 years but i expect this to stop or reverse.

New Zealand -----> Left. Already on of the most liberal countries in the world, outside Scandinavia. 3rd term is all but assured for the Democratesque Labour party, who currently have 2 Gay cabinet ministers (one is a senior minister) and a transexual MP also in cabinet in a medium/senior role.

Canada ---> Right. Don't know much, but the canadians here will be able to help me out. The Liberal Party government appears to be having a few issues at the moment?

Germany ---> Steady on the left.

France ---> To the right if it votes no on the EU constitution.

[dazzleman]

I think most westernized countries, including the US, are moving left socially, under the common definition of moving left.

Economically, we have moved right since the 1940s.  I don't think we're really moving on that front, just staying stagnant for the moment.

[Colin]

Here a short list of countries and the political direction I see them moving. Feel free to add to and correct what I'm saying

Australia ----> Right - 4th Term for PM Howard plus strong influence of Abbot (the conservative health minister)

Britain ----> Right, but slowly - reduced Majority for Blair, and calls for Brown to take over

U.S.A ----> Not moving, has been moving right over the past 20 years but i expect this to stop or reverse.

New Zealand -----> Left. Already on of the most liberal countries in the world, outside Scandinavia. 3rd term is all but assured for the Democratesque Labour party, who currently have 2 Gay cabinet ministers (one is a senior minister) and a transexual MP also in cabinet in a medium/senior role.

Canada ---> Right. Don't know much, but the canadians here will be able to help me out. The Liberal Party government appears to be having a few issues at the moment?

Germany ---> Steady on the left.

France ---> To the right if it votes no on the EU constitution.

That has to be some of the most simplistic foreign election analysis I have ever seen. You think that Canada's moving to the right? I would highly doubt that nor do I think France is moving to the right either. If you look at the French no campaign much of it is being led by Socialist and people on the far-left, along with Le Pen and his nationalists. I would suggest you read Umengus' thread for more information about this. Canada? Are you on crack? Just because a Conservative government may come into power does not mean its moving right. The Liberal Government having a few issues? That would be like saying that Michael Jackson only has a few issues. They are going through the largest corruption scandel in history. Also how could a country be moving to the right when its government, even under a huge scandel, will only drop around 4-5 points in the polls? I wont even get into the British analysis. I'm sorry but you do not know anything about international politics or international affairs or if you do you need to relearn alot of it. I would suggest you spend some quality time with Wikipedia, BBC, The Economist, and the International Herald Tribune if you want to actually learn something about the world.

[dazzleman]

Colin, is it really necessary to be that nasty?

PADem's comments were not presented in a malicious way.  While I don't view short-term political changes as necessarily indicative of long-term trends, they are part of the picture.  It also depends upon the context of how left-right is defined.  There are many different aspects to the political spectrum.

[PADem]

Here a short list of countries and the political direction I see them moving. Feel free to add to and correct what I'm saying

Australia ----> Right - 4th Term for PM Howard plus strong influence of Abbot (the conservative health minister)

Britain ----> Right, but slowly - reduced Majority for Blair, and calls for Brown to take over

U.S.A ----> Not moving, has been moving right over the past 20 years but i expect this to stop or reverse.

New Zealand -----> Left. Already on of the most liberal countries in the world, outside Scandinavia. 3rd term is all but assured for the Democratesque Labour party, who currently have 2 Gay cabinet ministers (one is a senior minister) and a transexual MP also in cabinet in a medium/senior role.

Canada ---> Right. Don't know much, but the canadians here will be able to help me out. The Liberal Party government appears to be having a few issues at the moment?

Germany ---> Steady on the left.

France ---> To the right if it votes no on the EU constitution.

That has to be some of the most simplistic foreign election analysis I have ever seen. You think that Canada's moving to the right? I would highly doubt that nor do I think France is moving to the right either. If you look at the French no campaign much of it is being led by Socialist and people on the far-left, along with Le Pen and his nationalists. I would suggest you read Umengus' thread for more information about this. Canada? Are you on crack? Just because a Conservative government may come into power does not mean its moving right. The Liberal Government having a few issues? That would be like saying that Michael Jackson only has a few issues. They are going through the largest corruption scandel in history. Also how could a country be moving to the right when its government, even under a huge scandel, will only drop around 4-5 points in the polls? I wont even get into the British analysis. I'm sorry but you do not know anything about international politics or international affairs or if you do you need to relearn alot of it. I would suggest you spend some quality time with Wikipedia, BBC, The Economist, and the International Herald Tribune if you want to actually learn something about the world.

I wasn't trying to do a complex analysis of the economic and socio-political issues of each country and thus their impact on the movement of said country across the political spectrum.

It was just a simple post from what I see as happening in the short term. I'm not taking long term trends into account and I never really said I was.

Furthermore, I didn't confess to know a lot about Canadian politics.... see the line

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I suggest you read a post (however short and simple it may be) before launching into such a diatribe.

[Hatman 🍁]

Furthermore, I didn't confess to know a lot about Canadian politics.... see the line

But Canada is so close to Pennsylvania!

I don't think Canada is moving to the right at all, just look at the way the Liberals have picked up Toronto's suburbs away from the tories provincially, and federally. That may not be all of Canada, but 25% live in that area. Actually, come to think of it, most countries in the world are moving to the left- or at least are becoming more Libertarian.

[Jake]

Something like 2/3rds of the Canadian House is occupied by leftists/social dems if I remember correctly. 

[Hatman 🍁]

Something like 2/3rds of the Canadian House is occupied by leftists/social dems if I remember correctly. 

If you count the Liberals, yes. But there are a number of right wing members of the Liberal Party. Most of the Liberals are centrist- including most of the current cabinet.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The U.K has turned sharply away from social liberalism on most issues in the past couple of years (especially anything to do with race or immigration).

[Horus]

Most countries seem to be moving steadily away from statism and towards small l libertarianism. Some, however, are simply moving left, and a few are getting more conservative.

Some aren't moving at all.

[WMS]

It's all cyclical. I remember swings both left and right in democratic Europe just in the past 10 years. For an neat little illustration of this, go here and check out the little applet thingy showing how governments changed in Western Europe from 1945 to 1988.

[Banana Republic]

I think England(I don't think S or W have changed) has moved left in both ways in the past 13 or so years, but has become a little more socially conservative in the past few years. Although not in a repressive way, basically just on immigration and law&order.

[Colin]

Here a short list of countries and the political direction I see them moving. Feel free to add to and correct what I'm saying

Australia ----> Right - 4th Term for PM Howard plus strong influence of Abbot (the conservative health minister)

Britain ----> Right, but slowly - reduced Majority for Blair, and calls for Brown to take over

U.S.A ----> Not moving, has been moving right over the past 20 years but i expect this to stop or reverse.

New Zealand -----> Left. Already on of the most liberal countries in the world, outside Scandinavia. 3rd term is all but assured for the Democratesque Labour party, who currently have 2 Gay cabinet ministers (one is a senior minister) and a transexual MP also in cabinet in a medium/senior role.

Canada ---> Right. Don't know much, but the canadians here will be able to help me out. The Liberal Party government appears to be having a few issues at the moment?

Germany ---> Steady on the left.

France ---> To the right if it votes no on the EU constitution.

That has to be some of the most simplistic foreign election analysis I have ever seen. You think that Canada's moving to the right? I would highly doubt that nor do I think France is moving to the right either. If you look at the French no campaign much of it is being led by Socialist and people on the far-left, along with Le Pen and his nationalists. I would suggest you read Umengus' thread for more information about this. Canada? Are you on crack? Just because a Conservative government may come into power does not mean its moving right. The Liberal Government having a few issues? That would be like saying that Michael Jackson only has a few issues. They are going through the largest corruption scandel in history. Also how could a country be moving to the right when its government, even under a huge scandel, will only drop around 4-5 points in the polls? I wont even get into the British analysis. I'm sorry but you do not know anything about international politics or international affairs or if you do you need to relearn alot of it. I would suggest you spend some quality time with Wikipedia, BBC, The Economist, and the International Herald Tribune if you want to actually learn something about the world.

I wasn't trying to do a complex analysis of the economic and socio-political issues of each country and thus their impact on the movement of said country across the political spectrum.

It was just a simple post from what I see as happening in the short term. I'm not taking long term trends into account and I never really said I was.

Furthermore, I didn't confess to know a lot about Canadian politics.... see the line

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I suggest you read a post (however short and simple it may be) before launching into such a diatribe.

PADem just to warn you I love diatribes.

In all honesty though I'm sorry I kinda raged at you there; I am rather prone to those sorts of things every once and a while. Didn't read the part about wanting to know more about you wanting to know more about Canadian politics.

[Beet]

Moving Right:
Australia ----> Right
U.S.A ----> Right
Japan ----> Right

Slight Right:
Germany ---> Slight right

Staying Center:
Britain ----> Staying centre
New Zealand -----> Staying same

Slight Left:
Canada ---> Slight left
France ---> Slight left (anti-E.U. vote is supported by the socialists)

Left:
Spain ---> Moving left

[Bono]

Swtizerland --> Moving way right, that I can tell ya.
Russia--> Moving in an authoritarian direction.
Subsaharan Africa--> Moving right as a whole(it really couldn't get that much more left than that anyways.

[Shira]

Here a short list of countries and the political direction I see them moving. Feel free to add to and correct what I'm saying

Australia ----> Right - 4th Term for PM Howard plus strong influence of Abbot (the conservative health minister)

Britain ----> Right, but slowly - reduced Majority for Blair, and calls for Brown to take over

U.S.A ----> Not moving, has been moving right over the past 20 years but i expect this to stop or reverse.

New Zealand -----> Left. Already on of the most liberal countries in the world, outside Scandinavia. 3rd term is all but assured for the Democratesque Labour party, who currently have 2 Gay cabinet ministers (one is a senior minister) and a transexual MP also in cabinet in a medium/senior role.

Canada ---> Right. Don't know much, but the canadians here will be able to help me out. The Liberal Party government appears to be having a few issues at the moment?

Germany ---> Steady on the left.

France ---> To the right if it votes no on the EU constitution.

Spain ---> to the left.
Italy ---> to the left next year ( a prediction)

[Gustaf]

Most of Europe is probably moving right on economy - we pretty much have to. This includes France and Germany. The entire world, pretty much, is moving left on social issues as Dazzleman pointed out.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Most of Europe is probably moving right on economy - we pretty much have to. This includes France and Germany.

Weird thing is that the U.K seems to be heading in the opposite direction. Actually it's not so weird; our economy and public services have always been structured in a very different way to the rest of Europe and I suppose we're less ideological (most of the time...)

[TB]

Denmark is moving from right to center. At least by Danish standards.

[Platypus]

Australia is moving to the center-right, and Abbott is a symptom not a cause. We don't really have a socially leftwing major party any more.

[Jens]

Denmark is moving from right to center. At least by Danish standards.

Uhm, A government totally dependent on a nationalist zenophobic rightwing party. A municipal reform that centralise power - educational reforms that removes much of the universities self-governing especially control over large parts of their budgets and creates educational canons to insure that the children are taught the "right" stuff.

Face it we have a rightwing government, that totally fails the libeterian parts of Venstre and promotes an autoritarian conservative policy with a wee bit of social-liberal input

[TB]

Denmark is moving from right to center. At least by Danish standards.

Uhm, A government totally dependent on a nationalist zenophobic rightwing party. A municipal reform that centralise power - educational reforms that removes much of the universities self-governing especially control over large parts of their budgets and creates educational canons to insure that the children are taught the "right" stuff.

Face it we have a rightwing government, that totally fails the libeterian parts of Venstre and promotes an autoritarian conservative policy with a wee bit of social-liberal input

Hey, it’s good to see a Dane on the forum!


Oh, I totally agree with you Jens, but the rise of Helle Thorning-Schmidt has meant that the social democrats are wining back a lot of center-votes. She's a little too far right and too populist for my taste, but it does seem like the country is moving back towards the center. The most resent polls also suggest that the center-left coalition is gaining back a lot of support from especially union members who used to vote for Venstre or even Dansk Folkeparti.

[Tender Branson]

Austria: Center-right since 1999

Wait until the Oct 1. elections and we'll see if it continues or not.

ÖVP-SPÖ coalition = Center
ÖVP-Green = Center
SPÖ-Green = Center-Left
ÖVP-FPÖ = Center-Right
SPÖ-Green-Martin = Center Left

[Umengus]

Elections are not enought to judge if a country is right or left. For example: France: all gov (left or right) have been always defeated at each election for 1981. And it's important to note that there is sometimes a great difference between a party and his voters.

But... the best to judge the political situation in France is polls and presidential elections (best turnout).

I think:

On economy: France is not a neo-liberal country but not a hyper-etatist country either. Majority of people rejects flexibility and great wages of big boss and support generally stikes  BUT majority support little boss, economic freedom and a fall of the taxes too.  left or right?

On social values:

-Majority is opposed to gay marriages and especially child adoption by gays but approved civil-unions.

-Majority is probably in favor of death penalty for child killers.

-A great majority wants stronger punishments for criminals and support the policy of firmness to clean the streets.

-A great proportion (but maybe not the majority) thinks that islam is a threath for society.

BUT

I think that

-Majority has concerns about environment

-xenophobia (justified or not) is less strong in France than in UK, Belgium,...

-A very great majority supports the right to die in dignity (euthanasia)


About abortion, it's not anymore a media problem but I would curious to see polls on it if the question "no abortion except for incest, rape and the life of the mother) is asked

About the EU referendum, the "no" had 2 great reasons: first, social (left?) and secondly, nation (right?). 2 essential conditions to win.

[Michael Z]

The U.K has turned sharply away from social liberalism on most issues in the past couple of years (especially anything to do with race or immigration).

True, though on immigration we haven't gone quite as sharply to the right as Australia and Holland have (for instance). Probably just a question of time.