So far we have seen the differences between the classical definitions of political theories. However, time does not stand still. As such, these theories have evolved and some of their characteristics have changed. However, these changes do affect neither their basic beliefs nor the outcomes. In this page we will review these changes while adding some meaningful comments. This is important because these changes can be quite confusing without fully understanding what is going on, moreover because politicians routinely dis-inform people to prevent the loss of votes. We are hopeful this will bring some clarification to the whole sordid affair.
|
Political Theory |
Old Characteristic |
New Characteristic |
Moved Towards |
|
Classical Liberalism |
Strive for small governments and maximum freedom. |
Accept political realities and learn to live with large governments and significant restrictions in freedom. Classical Liberalism is dead since there is almost no difference with Collectivist Liberalism. |
Socialism |
|
Collectivist Liberalism |
Strive for large governments and the common good. |
Strive for slighter smaller governments and privatize some of its operations. Almost all countries on earth are now of this political theory. |
Capitalism |
|
Socialism |
Strive for large governments controlling the main means of production and the common good. |
Strive for slighter smaller governments and privatize some of its operations. Loosen restrictions of individual freedom. Socialism is deal since it has mutated into Collectivist Liberalism. |
Capitalism |
|
Communism |
Strife for large government controlling all means of production and the common good. |
Strive for slighter smaller governments and privatize some of its operations. Control all means of production indirectly but allowing for significant capitalist entrepreneurship. Classic communism is dead for the most since it switched to a blend of Collectivist Liberalism and Fascism. |
Capitalism |
|
Conservatism |
Strive for small governments in the hands of the elite. |
Strive for large governments influenced by the elite. Original conservatism is dead since it switched mostly to a blend of Collectivist Liberalism and Fascism. |
Not applicable |
|
Fascism |
Strive for small governments in the hands of the elite indirectly controlling all means of production. |
Fascism does not exist in the world today. |
Not applicable |
|
Market Anarchism |
Strive for neither government nor organization of any kind. |
Surprisingly, none. |
No change |
|
Social Anarchism |
Strive for all-controlling, all-seeing governments for the good of the collective. |
Surprisingly, none. |
No change |
What these changes amount to, is that for any intent and purposes, the entire world is controlled by Collectivist Liberalism which has shifted slightly towards capitalism. However, we must point out that this shift to the right is tiny indeed. As our ESSII scale indicates, most countries are very close to what the USSR used to be in terms of socialism. They are in fact so close, that there is no difference between modern Collectivist Liberalism and modern Socialism. Therefore and for practical reasons, we use the term Socialism and not Collectivist Liberalism in this site.
