And, similarly, it is odd that the Slovak libertarian party is labeled “extreme right-wing” seeming to rule out the possibility of including it in a left coalition giving it control of civil liberties.
Well, in Slovakia “left-wing” means communists, so the civil liberties are a right-wing topic here. The current “left-wing” topic is how we need to hire hundreds of new policemen, to protect us from the immigrant hordes.
I think that the communists in the post-communist countries are psychologically an equivalent of the religious right in the countries that didn’t have communism. That’s another part of what makes speaking about “left” and “right” so confusing.
Well, in Slovakia “left-wing” means communists, so the civil liberties are a right-wing topic here. The current “left-wing” topic is how we need to hire hundreds of new policemen, to protect us from the immigrant hordes.
I think that the communists in the post-communist countries are psychologically an equivalent of the religious right in the countries that didn’t have communism. That’s another part of what makes speaking about “left” and “right” so confusing.
I think the word you need is “statism”—the belief that strong central power is the best. It is shared by e.g. communists and fascists.
Thanks, I know the word, but 99+% people in my country still insist on using “left-wing”. Including the “left-wing” politicians.
Attaching labels is already a part of the political battle.
They are not wrong :-) The left wing tends to more statist than the right wing.