PolitiScales

Why are people the way they are? This axis allows you to situate yourself between two antagonistic poles answering this question.

Constructivism believe that an individual is constructed from his or her environment (particularly social), that the characteristics that make up the individual are acquired.

In contrast, essentialists assume that an individual is by nature what he or she is, and that the characteristics that make up the individual are innate.

Proponents of rehabilitative justice believe that the role of the judiciary is to put convicts back on the "right track", by making them understand why they should not do what they have been convicted of, and by accompanying them throughout this process.

Conversely, proponents of punitive justice assume that the role of Justice is to deter, both for convicts (to avoid recidivism) and for the rest of society (by making convicts examples not to follow).

Progressives seek social progress, to improve society, without regard to tradition. They often believe that the present era is better than those of the past, and that it is necessary to continue in this direction.

Conversely, the conservatives seek to maintain the status quo, or even to re-establish certain established values deemed to have disappeared or to be in decline. Traditions, including religious heritage, are emphasised as a source of wisdom.

Internationalism is a collection of heterogeneous ideas which have in common that countries and their inhabitants should not be ranked in order of importance, and that their cooperation should be promoted as much as possible. Pushed to its maximum, the ultimate goal of internationalism is the abolition of borders.

Conversely, nationalism is a collection of heterogeneous ideas having in common that it privileges the country and the inhabitants in which it applies over others, and legitimises the existence of one nation per people.

Communism is a very broad political doctrine. In this test, a preponderance for communism simply means that you support public ownership of the means of production.

Capitalism is also a very ambivalent concept. In this test, a preponderance for capitalism simply means that you are in favour of private ownership of the means of production.

This axis represents the attitude that a state should have in a market economy where a significant part of the means of production are private. Liberals and Keynesians are thus opposed to each other on the method to be adopted, without however questioning capitalism. If you are a capitalist, this axis represents your goal for the economy. If you are a communist, this axis represents the least bad thing you can expect from the current system.

Regulationism, or interventionism, is an idea that economic activity should be regulated for the benefit of all. This can be done through legislation, planning, subsidies, variable taxation...

Conversely, the Let it happen is an idea that economic activity should not be regulated, as it would serve the public interest by itself. This may involve weak legislation, little or no subsidies, fixed and often low taxation, or even the complete removal of the state's role in the economy.

Ecology, in politics, favours the protection of the environment, limiting as much as possible the impact of human activities on biodiversity, even if it means limiting the said human activities in passing by modifying more or less radically the current way of life.

Productivism privileges human needs, notably by supporting increased production or the use of methods that have an uncertain impact on the environment.

Revolutionaries will tend to favour direct action, often on the margins of legality, to achieve their goals, to replace the current political organisation with a radically different one. This can be done through guerrilla warfare, or more generally through methods that fall outside the framework of acceptability set by political institutions...

The reformists will tend to favour legal action to achieve their ends, in order to reform the current political organisation little by little. This can be done through institutions, via elections, authorised demonstrations, petitions...