Right Wing Politics

Posted on January 24, 2008
Filed Under Politics

In politics, right-wing, the political right, and the Right are positions that seek to uphold or return to traditional authorities and/or the liberties of a civil society. Its concern is often to preserve the domestic culture usually in the face of external forces for change. Due to its link to tradition, the right has been associated with the church, business and law and order. In general, the right also advocates the preservation of personal wealth and private ownership.

The right wing tends to believe in social equity rather than social equality. It regards most social inequality as the result of ineradicable natural inequalities, and sees attempts to enforce social equality as utopian or authoritarian. Ideologies considered part of the right include; Traditionalism, Conservatism, Laissez-faire Capitalism, Right-Libertarianism, Objectivism, Reactionism, Monarchism, Aristocracy and, to some extent, Fascism and Nazism.[1]

The more conservative or reactionary section of a political party or spectrum. It originated in the French national assembly in 1789, where the nobles sat in the place of honour on the president’s right, whereas the commons were on his left .[2]

The opposite of left. As with the term left-wing, the label right-wing has many connotations which vary over time and are often only understood within the particular political context. In advanced liberal democracies, perhaps more than anything else the right has been defined in opposition to socialism or social democracy. As a result, the ideologies and philosophies of right-wing political parties have included elements of conservatism, Christian democracy, liberalism, libertarianism, and nationalism; and for extreme-right parties racism and fascism. As the policy platforms of parties have varied, so has the popular conception of the left-right dimension. In surveys, self-placement on a ‘left-right’ scale is associated with attitudes on economic policy, especially redistribution and privatization/ nationalization, post-materialism, and (particularly in Catholic countries) religiosity.[3]

Politics: right-wing

A descriptive term for an individual or a political faction that advocates very conservative policies. Right-wing groups generally support free enterprise. In the United States, the right wing generally argues for a strong national defense program and opposes federal involvement in promoting social welfare. (Compare left-wing.)

Although both major political parties in the United States have right-wing factions, right-wing policies are usually associated with the Republican party. [4]

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[1] Wikipedia
[2] farlex.com
[3] Stephen Fisher
[4] Answers.com

Tags: Politics, right wing