Title: Political Terminology Post by: Yelnoc on July 03, 2012, 11:44:11 AM I have noticed that one barrier against productive political discussion is a dissonance between definitions assigned by various groups to common political words. I made this thread in hopes that you guys would help me define some of the most common ones. Below are my mental definitions of a few (I will be adding to this list). I realize they may differ from the dictionary definition or that put forth by academics, but part of this is a look at the psyche of debaters, so it's ok to be wrong. Just use your gut definition, and please challenge mine if you find a fault in them.
Reactionary: Wants to revert to a fabled earlier age, when things were better. Conservative: Opposes change, be it social or economic or any other issue, but don't want to revert back to earlier ages, merely arrest progress in the present. Liberal: Support personal freedoms, be they in the social or economic sphere. Market Liberal: An economic liberal, supports deregulation and unhindered capitalism. Social Liberal: A social liberal, supports removing government from people's private lives. "Libertarians" are generally social liberals rebranded as such because of the left-wings adoption of the word "liberal" and the right's subsequent demonization of liberals. Progressive: Support social progress, equality, and all things related. Though they often fall in hand in hand with social liberals, progressives do not oppose state intervention to right wrongs. Democratic Socialist: Seek not to replace the capitalist system, but buffer it with the state in an effort to make it more humane. Socialist: Seeks to replace the capitalist economic system with a socialist one. This is a huge category with a million little splinters which I won't get into. Statist: Favors the state in all arguments. Argues for nationalization of industries. Fascist: Nationalist, militaristic, corporatist. Anarchist: Opposes the state in all of its forms. Title: Re: Political Terminology Post by: Dereich on July 03, 2012, 01:27:43 PM So we're coming up with our own definitions here? Well here's one that's thrown about too much:
Hack: A person who unquestioningly supports a set of positions not out of deeply held convictions but a tribalistic "my side, right or wrong" loyalism. Title: Re: Political Terminology Post by: politicus on July 03, 2012, 03:19:23 PM I have noticed that one barrier against productive political discussion is a dissonance between definitions assigned by various groups to common political words. I made this thread in hopes that you guys would help me define some of the most common ones. Below are my mental definitions of a few (I will be adding to this list). I realize they may differ from the dictionary definition or that put forth by academics, but part of this is a look at the psyche of debaters, so it's ok to be wrong. Just use your gut definition, and please challenge mine if you find a fault in them. Democratic Socialist: Seek not to replace the capitalist system, but buffer it with the state in an effort to make it more humane. Socialist: Seeks to replace the capitalist economic system with a socialist one. This is a huge category with a million little splinters which I won't get into. What you are describing under the label Democratic Socialist is a Social Democrat. Title: Re: Political Terminology Post by: FEMA Camp Administrator on July 03, 2012, 08:08:52 PM ()
Title: Re: Political Terminology Post by: FEMA Camp Administrator on July 03, 2012, 08:09:24 PM Political theory, from the Mikado's point of view.
Title: Re: Political Terminology Post by: The Mikado on July 03, 2012, 08:20:09 PM Well, at least a useful way of conceptualizing what those words mean. :P
Title: Re: Political Terminology Post by: Redalgo on July 21, 2012, 01:19:32 PM Intuitively, I'd define the fifty most basic political terms like this:
Anarchist: Favors a stateless society Aristocrat: Favors rule by the best few Authoritarian: Favors a strong state, and rule with little voice for the masses Capitalist: Favors strong property rights and an owner-governed economy Clientelist: Favors privileged gift relationships between leaders and their constituencies Communitarian: Favors communal or societal interests Communist: Favors a stateless, cooperative society with little or no property Conservationist: Favors management of natural resources for sustainable utilization Conservative: Favors reforms based on traditional ideals Corrupt: Pertains to inappropriate pursuits of self-interest harmful to others in society Corporatist: Favors formal collaboration between state and privileged interest groups Demagogue: A charismatic persuader of the masses who dispenses propaganda Democratic: Favors rule of the many Democratic Socialist: Favors a legal, non-violent transition to socialism Elitist: Pertains to trusting elites with power more than the masses Environmentalist: Favors protection of wildlife and natural habitats Ethnocentric: Pertains to judging other cultures using the norms & values of ones own Fascist: Favors an organic, nationalist, corporatist society led by and serving the state Feminist: Favors sexual equality of social status Imperialist: Favors subordination of other nations' interests to and by those of another Internationalist: Favors cooperation betwixt nations, or the globalization of an ideology Liberal: Favors rule of law, a weak state, and abundant personal autonomy Libertarian: Ether an anarchist or strong liberal, depending on who you ask Monarchic: Favors rule by one Multicultural: Favors the acceptance and accommodation of two or more distinct cultures Nationalist: Favors the interests of ones country having primacy over those of others' Neoconservative: Favors (in the U.S.) political moderation and liberal internationalism Neoliberal: Favors the implementation of free markets in most, or all, facets of society Neo-mercantilist: Favors state-firm cooperation for mutual gain Non-interventionist: Favors avoidance of entanglement in foreign events Ochlocratic: Pertains to corrupt democracy Oligarchic: Pertains to corrupt aristocracy Ordoliberal: Favors social markets as conducive to liberal goals Patriotic: Pertains to love of and devotion to ones country Pluralist: Favors tolerance of diverse people with diverse interests Populist: Pertains to trusting the masses with power more than elites Pragmatic: Favors utilitarianism instead of idealism Progressive: Favors reforms based on modern ideals Radical: Favors swift and fundamental changes Reformist: Favors methodical, incremental changes Reactionary: Favors restoration of an old order Revolutionary: Favors radicalism sans a desire to adhere to the law Social Democrat: Favors social markets, social rights, and private property Social Liberal: Favors liberalism with a state capable of checking economic actors Socialist: Favors strong social rights and a worker-governed economy Statist: Pertains to trust in state to solve social problems Technocratic: Favors elites making decisions pertinent to their varied fields of expertise Theocratic: Favors rule under a religion Totalitarian: Favors unlimited state power to reshape society for ideological purposes Tyranny: Pertains to corrupt monarchy |