Horseshoe theory
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The horseshoe theory in political science asserts that rather than the far left and the far right being at opposite and opposing ends of a linear political continuum, they in fact closely resemble one another, much like the ends of a horseshoe. The theory is attributed to French writer Jean-Pierre Faye.[1]
Horseshoe theory competes with the conventional linear left-right continuum system as well as the various multidimensional systems. Proponents of the theory point to similarities between the extreme left and the extreme right. Specifically, the two ends share an authoritarian element. In extreme left political systems (such as communism) the government takes control of the economic resources by violating the property rights of individuals. In extreme right political systems (such as fascism) the government also takes control of the economic life, creating a central planning, and violating property rights. With both extremes, this theory asserts, the power elite are opposed to genuine clean elections, genuinely free media and speech, and similar democratic institutions that, this theory says, characterizes the political center.
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[edit] Social
More recently, the term has been used when comparing hostility towards Jews from both the far left and the far right (see New antisemitism).[2]
[edit] Criticism
Critics of the theory have suggested that many sociologists consider the Horseshoe theory to have been discredited.[3] The radical left contests the theory by asserting that it is in fact the most socially-just and authentically populist sector of politics, something the center cannot match, while the radical right, with its virulent anti-communism, insists that it is the bulwark against an 'encroachment' of a conspiratorial secret radical-left plan to take over the world, operating under the guise of classical liberalism but really having a more sinister approach.[citation needed]
In University of Reading academic Peter Barker's[4] book, GDR and Its History, Peter Thompson[5] of the University of Sheffield observes that the theory is "increasingly orthodox", and describes the theory as seeing "left and right-wing parties being closer to each other than the centre". He dissents from the theory, objecting that it fails to take into account the unbroken continuum of political thought.[6]
[edit] See also
- Left-right politics
- Political spectrum
- Blair's Law
- Socialist Alternative - allegations of anti-semitism
[edit] References
- ^ Encel, Frédéric; Thual, François (2004-11-13). "United States-Israel: A friendship that needs to be demystified". Le Figaro (Paris). Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. http://web.archive.org/web/20070930160218/http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/1751/2/. Retrieved 2009-02-13. "Jean-Pierre Faye's famous horseshoe theory (according to which extremes meet) finds verification here more than in other places, and the two states of delirium often mingle and meet, unfortunately spreading beyond these extremist circles. But contrary to the legend deliberately maintained and/or the commonplace believed in good faith, Israel and the United States have not always been allies; on several occasions their relations have even been strained."
- ^ "The Political Horseshoe again". AIJAC. http://www.aijac.org.au/review/2006/31-11/scribb31-11.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-13. "I think Mr. Loewenstein has done a good job demonstrating why many people believe, as the “political horseshoe” theory states, that there is a lot more common ground between the far left, where Loewenstein dwells politically, and the far right views of someone like Betty Luks than people on the left would care to admit."
- ^ Political Research Associates: Study the U.S. Political Right
- ^ University of Reading: Peter Barker
- ^ University of Sheffield: Peter Thompson
- ^ GDR and Its History pp103
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