For two centuries (or at least since the French Revolution) political systems have been artificially placed on a linear Left-Right political measuring stick. On the Left side of this political line are what are generally considered ‘liberal’ forms of government, and on the right are what is considered ‘conservative’ forms of government. Political parties such as the American Democratic and Republican parties are placed on this linear spectrum, as are various forms of government (communist, socialist, theocratic, etc), and even media publications.
Plotting political parties and political systems on this linear spectrum needs to stop, however. The linear spectrum fails to adequately account for the many similarities between systems of government that are at supposedly polar opposite ends of the spectrums (for instance placing communism on the far left and fascism on the far right), and the stark contrasts between others that are plotted nearby (liberal socialism vs totalitarian communism). The failures of this system of political modeling are obvious and a new model needs to be promoted as a replacement.
My replacement system plots political systems on a grid based on two primary measures of freedom: social freedom and economic freedom. Social freedoms encompass everything from freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion and the absence of laws and codes that restrict personal behavior. Economic freedoms encompass the freedom to own property, acquire wealth, establish businesses and business relationships, lower taxation, and the ability to operate freely from regulatory and financial controls.
The Quadrants
Using the freedoms model to chart political systems four quadrants emerge: Socialist, Libertarian, Totalitarian (or authoritarianism), and Theocratic.
The Socialist quadrant is marked by systems of government with a high degree of social freedom but lower levels of economic freedom. Within this quadrant governments would apply few restrictions on speech, personal expression, and few or no moral codes. Conversely, these governments often utilize higher rates of taxation to generate revenue for social programs, inhibiting personal wealth growth and economic freedom. Classic European socialism would fit into this quadrant, varying from Greece to Scandinavia.
The Libertarian quadrant is marked by a high degree of both social and economic freedom. Libertarian governments are marked by few laws or regulations that inhibit personal thought or expression, and do not advance religious or moral codes. Low taxation and limited business regulations allow individual and corporate wealth building.
At the Libertarian extreme, however, is the complete absence of government rules that inhibit society: anarchy.
The Totalitarian quadrant is marked by very limited social and economic freedom. Individual thought and expression is regulated with the potential for incarceration or ostracism for deviation from what the government considers acceptable.
Economic freedom is inhibited to enforce a collectivist ideology either through high taxation or outright banning of private property. Even if private property is allowed, the government can often seize it without recompense, leading to little economic security,
Finally theocracies are marked by limited social freedom, but varying degrees of economic freedom. Often there are social or religious codes that are strictly enforced and which may lead to severe criminal penalties. In contrast, individuals may be able to build personal wealth through investments and business relationships. Saudi Arabia and Iran are two examples of theocratic governments.
Nazism and Soviet Communism in the Same Quadrant
On the traditional political spectrum Nazism (or extremist fascism) and Soviet Communism are at opposite ends, but in this model they are in the same Totalitarian quadrant. Soviet communism banned personal property beyond simple homes and personal possessions and limited freedom of speech, assembly, etc with the threat of incarceration.
In Nazi Germany, personal property rights were retained, but only as long as the government chose not to seize them. Businesses were tightly controlled by the government. Personal freedoms were severely restricted too, often with the threat of incarceration or death for opposition to the government.
In Totalitarianism a single party controls the government.
Modern Chinese Communism now straddles the line between economically free and restricted by totalitarianism. As the country has evolved from the Maoist state, personal wealth building is now allowed and encouraged. Many of the world’s billionaires are now Chinese. Still, the country remains socially restrictive and utilizes censorship and the threat of incarceration to control the population. A single party controls the government.
Even in democratic societies aspects of totalitarianism have begun to emerge in the past decade. Proponents of wealth taxes and restrictive regulatory laws are gaining popular approval. Likewise, socially restrictive controls that regulate speech to “accepted” norms have been utilized by governments, particularly online. Cancel-culture and even the threat of violence is advanced by this ideology to ensure adherence to social norms.
Modern American Political Parties
Traditionally, the American Republican party promotes lower taxation and fewer business regulations, and is therefore more economically free. Democratic initiatives to raise taxes in support of social safety nets result in lesser opportunities to build individual wealth and less economic freedom.
As for social freedoms, in past decades the Republican party promoted moral codes that made it less socially free than the Democratic party.
It must be noted, however, that the modern Democratic party has embraced more socially restrictive policies as traditional Democrats are replaced by younger, more extremist members who adhere to Democratic Socialist beliefs.
The modern Republican party is drifting toward Libertarianism as the religious right has been replaced by Tea Party and Trump Republicans with lesser concern for religious and moral standards, but adhering to a strong, anti-tax, pro-business ethos.
The Libertarian Party exists in the Libertarian quadrant where both social freedoms and economic freedoms are guaranteed from interference from government. This quadrant would also represent the original vision of American democracy as envisioned by the Founding Fathers.
The Anarchist Extreme
Interestingly, Somalia represents a failed state where the government exerts little to no control over the populace. People are free to earn wealth using any manner, even piracy, without fear of government interference. At the same time this anarchy requires that individuals protect themselves and with no societal structures to ensure public safety lives are markedly more dangerous than in less ‘free’ societies.