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It is an oversimplification, and setting aside the polarization which comes hand in hand with politicization for the moment, but ideologies the world over and throughout history can be seen as leaning either to ‘the Left’ or to ‘the Right’, or to use other terms ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative’. The truth is much more of a spectrum than a simple ‘A or B’ but the further you range from the center the clearer the distinctions become.
The specific issues and concerns can vary greatly but overall Left-leaning ideologies are rooted in inclusivity while Right-leaning ideologies are rooted in exclusivity. Both believe people are worthy of rights, privileges, and protections the difference is Left ideologies seek them for everyone whereas Right ideologies seek them for members of a specific group. Both have their strengths and appealing characteristics. And both have their weaknesses and less attractive tendencies.
Again this is an oversimplification, as all binary models inherently are, but in terms of pointing to the primary difference between the two perceived ‘wings’ of ideologies the inclusive or exclusive focus is the clearest and truest.
Left-leaning ideologies are often seen, or depicted, as being the more noble and compassionate of the two…