Right-wing politics

Phyllis Schlafly and President Ronald Reagan at the White House during the 1980s

In politics, right-wing historically referred to a society run by natural law or tradition. It is generally synonymous with politically conservative beliefs, including economic and social conservatism, and support for a strong military and an active foreign policy. The term "right-wing," as well as "left-wing," came from the French Revolution, a reference to where people sat in parliament, although there was also a theory where the terms originated from the Book of Revelations relating to Jesus transfiguring those on his left side and right side into goats and sheep, respectively.^[1][2]

The term Rightist refers to someone on the 'right' side of the political spectrum. Politics on the 'right' usually imply taking positions in favor of the traditional system of a society, including its traditional values and its traditional ruling institutions. Compare: leftist. Following the left-right political spectrum, a "Right-Winger" could be referred to as anyone who favors having marginally more economic than personal liberties. Contrary to popular myth, racism and white supremacy knows no home on the political spectrum.

It is widely accepted, however, that there is not just one dimension of political thought, so that people can unambiguously be classified as 'right' or 'left'. Nonetheless, the political spectrum theory still has wide currency.

Conservatism[edit]

Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was a conservative who said, "Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong."

See also: Conservative

A conservative is someone who rises above his personal self-interest and promotes moral and economic values beneficial to all. A conservative is willing to learn and advocate the insights of economics and the logic of the Bible for the benefit of everyone else. A conservative favors conserving value by not giving handouts to anyone who does not really need them.

A conservative typically adheres to principles of personal responsibility, moral values, and limited government, agreeing with George Washington's Farewell Address that "religion and morality are indispensable supports" to political prosperity.^[3][4]

Religious conservatism is a big driver of social conservatism. Religious conservatism is growing in the world and it is affecting politics (see: Religious conservatism and politics).

Phil Crane, the leading conservative congressman in the House from 1969 to 2005, urged people to make the world a better place than where they found it, and quoted frequently from the Bible in pursuit of that goal.^[5]

Former President Ronald Reagan said, "The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom."^[6]

Effect of the right-wing policies of the 20th century politicians Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher on the USA and UK[edit]

Ronald Reagan[edit]

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan was president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Reagan was a movement conservative who succeeded in moving the nation to the right in terms of reducing federal regulation and lowering taxes. He promoted Individual Liberty and the conviction that government was the problem and private enterprise the solution. He cut taxes but despite his proposals, spending and the federal deficit went up. After a short sharp recession early in his first term, the economy was strong by 1984. Proclaiming "It's Morning Again in America", Reagan carried 49 of 50 states to win reelection. He moved the Supreme Court and the federal courts to the right with his appointments.

Margaret Thatcher[edit]

Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, and the first woman to hold the position. Her leadership permanently moved Britain to the right and reshaped the nation's political environment to stress economic growth and international competitiveness. The Labour Party in response under Tony Blair jettisoned their old leftist ideas and followed Thatcher-lite programs. Despite being in power for 13 years from 1997 to 2010 Labour did not remove any of Thatcher's anti-union legislation and has refused to even consider doing so.

Rise of right-wing politics in the 21st century in the USA, Europe and Australia[edit]

See also: Right-wing populism

Rise of 21st century right-wing politics in Western World Anglosphere[edit]

President Donald Trump

In the 2010 decade period, so far there has been a marked decline of leftism in the United States and Britain.^[7] In the United States, Democrats lost 1,042 seats—including U.S. House, Senate, state governorship, and state legislative seats—during Barack Obama's eight years in office.^[8]

The 2016 election of President Donald Trump was a significant blow to American leftism as the Trump administration has pursued right-wing/conservative policies. The U.S economy has seen significant growth since Trump's election (see also: Donald Trump achievements).

Political conservatism has grown in Australia. John Howard, who became prime minister in 1996, was the first holder of the office to describe himself as a conservative.^[9]

21st century rise of right-wing parties in Europe[edit]

In the 21st century, right-wing nationalist parties have been growing in Europe due to: the Eurozone Crisis; Euroskepticism (backlash to the increasingly centralized European Union and its globalist/open border policies); high youth unemployment in some European countries; low economic growth in various European countries; backlash to immigration and the European migrant crisis; a growing Islamic terrorism problem and growing levels of government debt in various European countries.^[10]

The Guardian reported in 2015 that merely a one-third of European countries are ruled by center-left governments.^[11]

In 2017, the New York Times reported that Italy is "one of the last major center-left governments standing in Europe."^[12] In November 2017, the Irish Times reported that "Italy takes sharp turn right ahead of general election",^[13]

In August 2017, the Express reported:

Emergence of the alt-right[edit]

See also: Alt-right

The Alt-right, or alternative right, is a an emerging leftist term when leftwing white supremacy became more difficult to hide. As leftist journalists and academics were forced to concede the reality that racism and white supremacy is not a defining characteristic of conservatism and the Right, they applied the term to segment and demonize individuals and groups that oppose multiculturalism, un-"skilled" immigration, opponents of the Establishment and globalization^[15][16] as white supremecists and neo-Nazis.

The alt-right movement's central theme is as follows:^[17]

Decline of leftism[edit]

See also: Decline of leftism

In the latter part of 20th century and beyond, there has been a trend of secular leftism losing favor in the world (see: Decline of leftism).

American culture war, demographics and expected tipping point after 2020[edit]

See also: Culture war and liberal

An unborn child in the womb. Liberals believe that the unborn child has no right to life. By the end of the century, three quarters of America may be pro-life.^[18]

The Birkbeck College, University of London professor Eric Kaufmann wrote in his 2010 book Shall the Righteous Inherit the Earth? concerning America:

See also[edit]

• Tea Party Movement
• Decline of the secular left

References[edit]