Political Compass Test 2020: How Liberal/Conservative Are You?

By BrainFall Staff - Updated: April 9, 2024

Ever find yourself in the middle of a heated debate, surprised by the political opinions bubbling up from your own vocal cords? If you've wondered just how many scoops of liberal or conservative are blended into your political milkshake, you're in for a treat. We at BrainFall have whipped up something that's part sugar, spice, and a generous dash of self-discovery. It's the Political Compass Test 2020, and it's here to map out your politico-personal landscape.

Now, don't mistake this for your everyday survey. This isn't about picking the lesser of two evils or choosing what kind of bread to have at your political picnic. No, sir! When you grapple with the propositions on this political compass, imagine yourself at the helm of your very own ideological starship. Are you cruising towards the liberal-left quadrant, charting a course for conservative-right territory, gearing up for an authoritarian ascent, or plotting a voyage to the libertarian lands? We invite you to hop aboard and find out—no space suit required!

Navigating the Axes

Diving into the Political Compass Test is like stepping into a political wardrobe—on one side, you'll find the economic scale, cozy with coins and cash, and on the other side, the social scale, swanky with personal freedoms. Now, let's shimmy through those political furs and decipher the lefts from the rights and the ups from the downs.

Left or Right? Understanding the Economic Axis

When we talk economics, imagine we're at a buffet. To your left, you've got shared plates—that's your collectivism, where resources are distributed evenly. Chew on policies like welfare systems and universal healthcare. Mosey to your right, and find individual platters—that's individualism and economic freedom, with economic policies favoring private ownership and minimal state intervention. Where your fork lands on these economic issues places you on either side of the economic axis.

Libertarian or Authoritarian? The Social Scale Unraveled

Now, imagine the social scale is our dance floor. Up towards the Libertarian corner, we're breaking it down with personal freedom galore. Think less big-brother oversight and more democracy tunes, where we shimmy and sway with civil liberties leading the beat. Slide down to the Authoritarian corner, and it's like a waltz with rules; structure and authority call the steps, giving less wiggle room for personal choice. Which dance you groove to reveals where you stand on the social scale.

Peek into the quadrants after you've plotted your moves, and you'll find yourself in the realm of liberals, conservatives, or maybe even dancing on the lines. But hey, don't just tap your foot to our beat—swing over to BrainFall and discover where you boogie in the grand political hoedown!

From Theory to Practice

Before we leap into the colorful world of political labels and spectrums, it's crucial to grasp how the theoretical underpinnings of political science are translated into the everyday inkblots that define who we are on the political map. Buckle up, folks—it's time to see where you land among history's political personalities and the ever-shifting political landscape!

Political Personalities and the Spectrum

Let's kick things off with a little throwback to our buddy Hans Eysenck, who paved the way by painting political views as a spectrum rather than a ping-pong match between left and right. Think of it as the color wheel of political personalities. Today, you've got figures from Joe Biden to Donald Trump hanging out on this wheel, and they're not just chilling—they represent living markers on a line that runs from authoritarian right to anarchism, and from neoliberal to social democracy.

Gauging the Political Landscape: Surveys, Quizzes, and Tests

Ever wonder just how progressive you are or whether you're a die-hard faith and flag conservative? We've got you covered like a cozy blanket of democracy. Surveys, quizzes, and tests—like those charming questionnaires over at Pew Research Center—ask punchy and sometimes vague questions to trigger reactions, measure social attitudes, and dig through the debate detritus to clear up your political typology. But don't worry; they're not grading you on the political spectrum!

Global Politics: How Countries Stack Up

Not confined to our own star-spangled bubble, some countries like Singapore and Nordic states show us the vast expanse of the political compass, with varying degrees of social freedoms and government involvement. Then there's China, doing its own dance on the far side of the spectrum. Remember, checking out how nations stack up is like spinning the globe and suddenly realizing your political values might just align more with the Nordic socialists than the western democracies' capital punishment enthusiasts. Mind-blowing, we know!