1 definition by DefineRight
A descriptor of a socioeconomic standpoint in politics.
A common misconception is to assume being "Right Wing" as being a completely defined political standpoint, when really you can be Right Wing on one of two scales; Social and Economic.
Social Scale: To be Right Wing on a social scale is to endorse primarily Authoritarian form of government, i.e placing importance in Discipline, the Armed Forces and Sovereignty. See British parties such as the BNP and to more extreme extent the National Front (NF) and Column 88/Combat 18.
Economic Scale: To be Right Wing from an economic standpoint is to be supportive of what is a traditionally Conservative position; that is support of small central government with more devolved power to individual states (in the USA) and more economic freedoms. It follows that while the economically right wing party supports a more lucrative trade system in which the market is largely competition-based rather than controlled by the government (meaning that Conservatives generally prefer to let competing corporations "battle it out" rather than tax or legislate them), this generally leads to less social values in terms of public services and equality between the social classes. One such party that endorses this view in the UK are the aforementioned Conservatives.
It is possible to be Right Wing in both a social and economic way, or only on one scale, which is why being "Right Wing" should not be synonymous with racism, fascism or simply Adolf Hitler.
A common misconception is to assume being "Right Wing" as being a completely defined political standpoint, when really you can be Right Wing on one of two scales; Social and Economic.
Social Scale: To be Right Wing on a social scale is to endorse primarily Authoritarian form of government, i.e placing importance in Discipline, the Armed Forces and Sovereignty. See British parties such as the BNP and to more extreme extent the National Front (NF) and Column 88/Combat 18.
Economic Scale: To be Right Wing from an economic standpoint is to be supportive of what is a traditionally Conservative position; that is support of small central government with more devolved power to individual states (in the USA) and more economic freedoms. It follows that while the economically right wing party supports a more lucrative trade system in which the market is largely competition-based rather than controlled by the government (meaning that Conservatives generally prefer to let competing corporations "battle it out" rather than tax or legislate them), this generally leads to less social values in terms of public services and equality between the social classes. One such party that endorses this view in the UK are the aforementioned Conservatives.
It is possible to be Right Wing in both a social and economic way, or only on one scale, which is why being "Right Wing" should not be synonymous with racism, fascism or simply Adolf Hitler.
"As a Conservative, I believe that public services should be privatised to allow more economic freedom. Therefore I am Economically Right Wing."
"I believe that National Service should be compulsory in the UK. I am also Anti-EU. Therefore I am Socially Right Wing."
"I believe that National Service should be compulsory in the UK. I am also Anti-EU. Therefore I am Socially Right Wing."
by DefineRight May 18, 2010