n-dimensional Political Spectrum


Abstract:
We need at least three, maybe more.

Body:
The World's Smallest Political Quiz and its successors are based on a two-dimensional political spectrum, where one axes rates economic liberty and the other rates social liberty. I wonder, though, if this is really enough. As a tool for categorizing political systems and beliefs, it's very good so far as the effects of government, but it says nothing about the means. For example, we could have a very economically and socially restrictive government run by a true popular democracy, and we could have a very economically and socially free government run by a dictator. I think it's worthwhile to consider at least a third dimension of decision liberty, ranging from direct vote to single, self-appointed dictator.

And if we are willing to consider a third dimension, why not more. It may make the model less useful for online quizzes, but as a tool for categorizing governments it would be very useful. We might also add dimensions related to the legal system, for example. The main challenges will be to political scientists to develop good dimensions and the corresponding ranking on the dimension and to interface designers to find a good way to display such a complex spectrum.

As a first attempt, here are five questions to be answered yes, no, or maybe that are to be scored in the same way as the World's Smallest Political Quiz, where a score of 100 is direct vote, and a score of 0 is self-appointed dictatorship.

1. People should elect their government.
2. Convicted felons should be allowed to vote.
3. No intelligence or education requirements for participating in government.
4. End indirect voting systems, such as electoral colleges.
5. No biological or ethnic requirements for for participating in government.

I'm not satisfied with my list, but it's a start. Hopefully someone with more experience in this area can take this idea and run with it.

Posted: Thu - February 22, 2007 at 06:52 PM         |    

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