The Left or the Right: Old Paradigms and New Governments

Miroslava Filipović

Dr. Marija Đorić, Assistant Director for Scientific Research

Abstract

Classical paradigms characterize left-oriented governments as being more interventionist in the economy than right-oriented ones. Nevertheless, many factors have influenced economic policy changes in modern parties. The paper first gives a literary review of parties’ orientation towards intervention in the economy. Secondly, a comparative analysis of economic policies is done for selected developed economies, combining the governments’ left-right composition with trends in their economic freedom. Finally, the paper summarizes main similarities and differences between left and right governments as to economic interventionism. The aim of the paper is to show how different economic policies with regard to market restrictiveness should change traditional perceptions of ideological inclination to economic interventionism. Our findings underscore the need for building a new ‘economic ideology’ map, as complement to traditional party classifications.

References

1. Armingeon, K., P. Potolidis, M. Gerber, and Ph. Leimgruber. 2009. Comparative Political Data Set 1960-2007. Berne: Institute of Political Science, University of Berne.
2. Benoit, K., and M. Laver. 2006. Party Politics in Modern Democracies. London: Routledge.
3. Blattberg, C. 2009. Patriotic Elaborations: Essays in Practical Philosophy. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
4. Bobbio, N. 1996. Left and Right: The Significance of a Political Distinction. Chicago University of Chicago Press.
5. Boix, C. 1998. Political Parties, Growth and Equality: Conservative and Social Democratic Strategies in the World Economy. Cambridge MA: Cambridge University Press.
6. Davis, W. 2007. ‘Partisanship and Central Bank Independence: Is There a policy-Ideology Trade-Off?’ Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans.
7. Downs, A. 1957. ‘An Economic Theory of Political Action in a Democracy.’ Journal of Political Economy, 65(2): 135-150.
8. Faye, J. 1996. Le siecle des ideologies. Paris: Arman Colin
9. Garrett, G. 1998. Partisan Politics in the Global Economy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
10. Giddens, A. Beyond the Left and the Right: the future of radical politics. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
11. Haupt, A. B. 2010. ‘Parties’ Responses to Economic Globalization: What is Left for the Left and Right for the Right?’ Party Politics, 16: 5-27.
12. Horino, I. 2008. ‘Partisanship, Factor Endowment, and Economic Openness in 21 OECD Countries: Examining Domestic Sources for Interdependence’. Paper presented at the International Studies Association Convention, San Francisco.
13. Janda, K. 1993. ‘Comparative Political Parties: Research and Theory.’ In Political Science: The State of the Discipline, ed. W. Finifter. Washington D.C.: American Political Science Association.
14. Kim, A., D. Markheim, J. Roberts, and C. Walsh. 2009. 2010 Index of Economic Freedom. Washington: The Heritage Foundation.
15. Laponce, J. A. 1961. The Government of the Fifth Republic: French political parties and the constitution. Berkeley: University of California Press.
16. Milner, H., and B. Judkins. 2004. ‘Partisanship, Trade Policy, and Globalization: Is There a Left-Right Divide on Trade Policy?’ International Studies Quarterly 48 (1): 95-119.
17. Wölfl, A., I. Wanner, T. Kozluk, and G. Nicoletti. 2009. ‘Ten Years of Product Market Reform in OECD Countries – Insights from a Revised PMR Indicator.’ Economics Department Working Papers695, Vienna: OECD.