Political spectrums are very popular in politics and are used widely as introductions to anyone who wants a crash course into how political parties and their policies are “fundamentally different” from one another. This distinction is made between the far right and the far left and those of the centre who lean a little either towards the left or right but not entirely. Recent arguments of those from the Conservative and UKIP brigade, the former being of the right and the latter being of the far right, have been presented as a crusade against the “left” and many of those from these parties highlight the “left” as a distinct entity. Indeed, it has been a “political bore” for some seeing Labour, the Liberal Democrats, SNP, Greens, and Plaid Cymru arguing amongst each other as a battle for the left while the right firmly stand united in condemnation of such bickering and state that “they are all the same”. This leads some to abandon leftist principles for the right because it is more unified and see such debates between the left as irrelevant and utter rubbish because they are all identical. But they are not. The so called left are not a coalition of unified separate parties fighting for the exact same thing. History is a great subject of our modern society. We can learn from the past and apply it to the present. In this regard, if History has taught us anything about the simple mechanism of the left versus the right is that there is none. And if History has taught us anything, it is that the discussion of the left is crucial to our society and shouldn’t be dismissed as “bickering” between parties, people and polices identified as being the “same”.
There are major differences especially in this general election of anti-austerity. Such a policy is that of the left but such a policy also exists to be taken in many different ways. Some extreme, some not so extreme. But if History has taught us something more important about why it is vital to listen to everyone and why it is important to make distinctions between those within the left and those within the right is the simple difference between moderate and extreme. The idea of socialism is a commonly known left principle. And yet it does not exist on one sole basis. Moderate socialism believes in a fair distribution of wealth through public ownership, rather than an all out war against capitalism and a pointless revolution to seek such a farcical cause. Extreme socialism, on the other hand believes in revolution and destroying capitalism metaphorically as well as physically by a rise of the workers against the cruel businesses which seek to alienate their livelihoods. Such is the complex difference exemplified by socialism that represents the division of the left and why the left needs to be magnified much more in an attempt to avoid this assertive assumption that it is one thing. Indeed, moderate socialism was the guiding principle and movement that gradually led to the Labour Party, which has been a beacon for a fair, just and equal society in successive governments whereas extreme socialism has led to the birth of Communist revolutions and backward countries led by brutal dictators such as those run by Stalin. It doesn’t take an expert to agree that both movements are fundamentally different from one another and yet they both believe in the same left principle of socialism, just through different means, methods and policies. It is this difference within means, methods and policies that differentiates those within the left and should be focused upon just as much as a fundamental distinction between the left and right. There are those who are moderate and those who are extreme, those who are realistic and those who are irrational. It is these aspects which need to be focused upon more to add to a debate and challenge political parties and their policies. Left vs. Right? It’s not that simple.
By: Nazza Ahmed, 17 year old A Level student with an avid interest in politics
There are major differences especially in this general election of anti-austerity. Such a policy is that of the left but such a policy also exists to be taken in many different ways. Some extreme, some not so extreme. But if History has taught us something more important about why it is vital to listen to everyone and why it is important to make distinctions between those within the left and those within the right is the simple difference between moderate and extreme. The idea of socialism is a commonly known left principle. And yet it does not exist on one sole basis. Moderate socialism believes in a fair distribution of wealth through public ownership, rather than an all out war against capitalism and a pointless revolution to seek such a farcical cause. Extreme socialism, on the other hand believes in revolution and destroying capitalism metaphorically as well as physically by a rise of the workers against the cruel businesses which seek to alienate their livelihoods. Such is the complex difference exemplified by socialism that represents the division of the left and why the left needs to be magnified much more in an attempt to avoid this assertive assumption that it is one thing. Indeed, moderate socialism was the guiding principle and movement that gradually led to the Labour Party, which has been a beacon for a fair, just and equal society in successive governments whereas extreme socialism has led to the birth of Communist revolutions and backward countries led by brutal dictators such as those run by Stalin. It doesn’t take an expert to agree that both movements are fundamentally different from one another and yet they both believe in the same left principle of socialism, just through different means, methods and policies. It is this difference within means, methods and policies that differentiates those within the left and should be focused upon just as much as a fundamental distinction between the left and right. There are those who are moderate and those who are extreme, those who are realistic and those who are irrational. It is these aspects which need to be focused upon more to add to a debate and challenge political parties and their policies. Left vs. Right? It’s not that simple.
By: Nazza Ahmed, 17 year old A Level student with an avid interest in politics
Left vs. Right? It’s Not That Simple
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