This website is nearly as old as the internet, but The Political Compass gauges your political leanings based on a series of questions they ask you and how strongly you feel about them. Afterward, your score is plotted on a grid and you can compare how you rate to other famous folks throughout history.
They argue the traditional model of describing someoneās political beliefs are too lacking (i.e., āleft, right or moderateā). Instead, the use a grid system that measures your political views as plotted against an axis that represents economic dimension and a second axis that deals with the social dimension.
If we recognise that this is essentially an economic line itās fine, as far as it goes. We can show, for example, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung and Pol Pot, with their commitment to a totally controlled economy, on the hard left. Socialists like Mahatma Gandhi and Robert Mugabe would occupy a less extreme leftist position. Margaret Thatcher would be well over to the right, but further right still would be someone like that ultimate free marketeer, General Pinochet.
That deals with economics, but the social dimension is also important in politics. Thatās the one that the mere left-right scale doesnāt adequately address. So weāve added one, ranging in positions from extreme authoritarian to extreme libertarian.
For reference, here are my political leanings after taking the test.
This places me solidly in the āLibertarian Leftā category. Who else falls into that category?
The also have a special section detailing the political leanings candidates involved in the 2008 Presidential Election.
If you have a few minutes to kill and are curious to find out more about your political stances, I encourage you to take the test!
