European countries compared to New World, more or less conservative

[mileslunn]

I was wondering for following countries how you would describe political cultures relative to Europe.

Canada
Australia
New Zealand
United States

More or less conservative and why and since Europe is a mix, how would you place them in terms of country most similar to.

Canada: Generally more left wing than pretty much everywhere in Europe, this is especially true on social issues.  On fiscal issues less so although gap has narrowed over past 20 years as Europe has moved right and Canada moved left.  On social to left of every European country while on fiscal closer to median but trending left.

New Zealand: Somewhat more socially progressive but not quite as progressive as Northern Europe while somewhat more fiscally conservative, but still to left of UK and Ireland but right of most mainland European countries.

Australia: Generally to right of most Western European countries but left of most Eastern European.  Socially about the same while fiscally to right of most although only slightly to right of UK.

United States: Fiscally to right of every European country but those who want US to become more like Europe economically are a sizeable minority whereas 20 years ago they were a small minority.  Most boomers aren't interested in having as high a taxes, welfare state as big, or as interventionist a government as Europe does, but a large chunk of millennials if not majority do.  On social issues about the same but way more polarized.  Most right wing areas of US to right of anywhere in Europe, but most socially liberal are on social but not fiscal to the left of everywhere in Europe.  Nowhere as socially conservative as Alabama, but likewise nowhere in Europe as socially liberal as San Francisco.

[Estrella]

"When I use an ideology," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make ideologies mean so many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master — that’s all."

Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. "They’ve a temper, some of them — particularly liberalism and conservatism, they’re the proudest — centrism you can do anything with, but not socialism — however, I can manage the whole of them! Fiscal conservatism! Social liberalism! That’s what I say!"


Comparing how "conservative" are different countries with different political cultures, histories, relationships between religions or nationalities or social classes, founding myths and ideologies, political systems... I'm not saying it's a waste of time, but I'd rather go and play chess with the Red Queen.

[Agafin]

I'm going to randomly select a few issues to make the comparison easier: Fiscal policy, healthcare, immigration, LGBT rights, abortion/reproductive rights. Also, Europe is massive and very diverse so this really isn't supposed to be thorough.

Canada: To the left of Eastern Europe on pretty much every social issue but slightly to the right on fiscal policy. It is to the right of Western, Southern and Northern  Europe on healthcare and about on par when it comes to LGBT rights. Immigration is a tricky one because while Canada has higher per capita immigration, it also gets to choose immigrants based on a points based system favouring economic migrants whereas Europe is stuck mostly with refugees and asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East. Ultimately I'll say it depends on the country with some like Germany (under Merkel) and Sweden being to Canada's left on immigration while France for example is to its right. Canada is to the left of pretty much every European country on drug policy and either to the left or on par with them on abortion.

New Zealand: I don't really know all that much about New Zealand's politics but based on the little I do, I can say that New Zealand is to the left of Eastern Europe on pretty much every thing.

Australia: Again, not all that versed here but Australian politics remind me of Southwestern USA (particularly Arizona). Like Canada if there was no Quebec or America without the South (guns and Bible). So that puts it to the right of Western Europe economically and for the most part, socially as well but again, to the left of Eastern Europe.

USA: By far the biggest country here, it is also the most diverse politically. The South of the US seems to be socially similar to Eastern Europe but way to its right on fiscal issues. America as a whole is to the right of Europe on healthcare, economics, LGBT and reproductive rights (on average, obviously it varies by state). America is mostly to Europe's left on immigration and drug policy.

[CumbrianLefty]

Yep, there is (for example) a vigorous pro-life movement in the UK, but the almost existential fifty year struggle the US has had on this issue since Roe v Wade is almost genuinely unthinkable.

[Samof94]

Yep, there is (for example) a vigorous pro-life movement in the UK, but the almost existential fifty year struggle the US has had on this issue since Roe v Wade is almost genuinely unthinkable.

Australia has a little bit of one(to name a country more comparable to the USA) but their movement is much weaker as does Canada.

[Lechasseur]

Eh, as much as Red State America, in particular the South, is more socially conservative than anywhere in the West except on immigration, you don't know Eastern Europe if you think Red State America is as rightwing socially as them. Eastern Europe is definitely more socially conservative than anywhere in America on most issues.

And Blue State America, except on law and order, is definitely more socially liberal than just about anywhere on Earth except for certain parts of Canada and Sweden really.

And also, I do wager that Canada would be a lot less liberal if Quebec and Anglo conservatives could actually unite on a longer term basis. I think the Liberals have managed to push as much progressive legislation in the last 60 years as they have due to the Conservatives' inability to build a consistent coalition of both Anglos and Quebecers, rather than it being the Canadians being "all liberal all the time".

In regards to Western Europe, it's definitely more socially conservative than Blue State America but more liberal than Red State America.

In terms of the economic issues, it's harder to generalize except for the fact that America is the most economically rightwing country on Earth bar none.

[parochial boy]

"When I use an ideology," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less."

"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make ideologies mean so many different things."

"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master — that’s all."

Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. "They’ve a temper, some of them — particularly liberalism and conservatism, they’re the proudest — centrism you can do anything with, but not socialism — however, I can manage the whole of them! Fiscal conservatism! Social liberalism! That’s what I say!"


Comparing how "conservative" are different countries with different political cultures, histories, relationships between religions or nationalities or social classes, founding myths and ideologies, political systems... I'm not saying it's a waste of time, but I'd rather go and play chess with the Red Queen.

Yeah, this is basically it. I mean, on the face of it, no-one is going to argue with the fact that Sweden is broadly more progressive than Poland. But, overall, different countries or different cultural regions have their own hang ups and neuroses and all the rest of it. So while Western Europeans get all weird about refugees and immigrants, for whatever reasons, the anglo-american habit of flipping out about who can use what toilet seems hillariously backwards and incomprehensible from a western european perspective. It doesn't really work out as "place x is more conservative than place y"... overally. It just means that not every country is getting weird about the same issues.

Same with 'economic issues' as well. Continenteal European countries generally have better welfare states than the anglosphere, but also a deranged budget deficit fetish that the Americans at least have had the sense to get over.

[Red Velvet]

All those four are very right wing economically, but to significantly different degrees.

Australia and especially USA are more to the right of New Zealand and Canada, which get the reputation of the cool left-wing alternatives but not because of themselves, mostly only because their neighbors are more to right.

Socially speaking, most western countries tend to be more progressive on domestic issues (foreign policy is a different beast). Not many big differences on that matter other than the fact the US right tends to be more conservative than its global counterparts, of the ones mentioned.

So, taking everything into a mix...

Canada (least conservative)
New Zealand
Australia
USA (most conservative)

If I had the option to put UK somewhere to complete the big five Anglo countries, I would put it as more conservative than US nowadays. 20 years ago I wouldn’t, but the US left gained significant more space (even if they’re a small minority) and UK is shifting to the right alongside all Europe.

Europe is this place that was always to the left of USA, but that’s starting to shift now. They are reacting the worst to the far-right surge. Even in the Western European countries you see something weird going on. Which has the side-effect of making USA look better in comparison even if there wasn’t that big of a direction shift.

[Red Velvet]

General stereotyped rule for Europe is this...

Social issues:
Western Europe - Progressive
Eastern Europe - Conservative

Economic issues:
Northern Europe - Right-wing
Southern Europe - Left-wing

Pretty much why Spain + Portugal are my favorite options, politically speaking. They’re the only European countries I would consider moving to if I ever had to (and that’s without considering the fact the language barrier is much lower as well). But they’re not free from the far-right growing trend influence either.

[EastwoodS]

All those four are very right wing economically, but to significantly different degrees.

Australia and especially USA are more to the right of New Zealand and Canada, which get the reputation of the cool left-wing alternatives but not because of themselves, mostly only because their neighbors are more to right.

Socially speaking, most western countries tend to be more progressive on domestic issues (foreign policy is a different beast). Not many big differences on that matter other than the fact the US right tends to be more conservative than its global counterparts, of the ones mentioned.

So, taking everything into a mix...

Canada (least conservative)
New Zealand
Australia
USA (most conservative)

If I had the option to put UK somewhere to complete the big five Anglo countries, I would put it as more conservative than US nowadays. 20 years ago I wouldn’t, but the US left gained significant more space (even if they’re a small minority) and UK is shifting to the right alongside all Europe.

Europe is this place that was always to the left of USA, but that’s starting to shift now. They are reacting the worst to the far-right surge. Even in the Western European countries you see something weird going on. Which has the side-effect of making USA look better in comparison even if there wasn’t that big of a direction shift.

I can’t think of anything the UK is to the right on except immigration and corporate tax rates. The UK tories are basically Dem light and follow the left wing Overton window of the UK to get elected.

[Samof94]

All those four are very right wing economically, but to significantly different degrees.

Australia and especially USA are more to the right of New Zealand and Canada, which get the reputation of the cool left-wing alternatives but not because of themselves, mostly only because their neighbors are more to right.

Socially speaking, most western countries tend to be more progressive on domestic issues (foreign policy is a different beast). Not many big differences on that matter other than the fact the US right tends to be more conservative than its global counterparts, of the ones mentioned.

So, taking everything into a mix...

Canada (least conservative)
New Zealand
Australia
USA (most conservative)

If I had the option to put UK somewhere to complete the big five Anglo countries, I would put it as more conservative than US nowadays. 20 years ago I wouldn’t, but the US left gained significant more space (even if they’re a small minority) and UK is shifting to the right alongside all Europe.

Europe is this place that was always to the left of USA, but that’s starting to shift now. They are reacting the worst to the far-right surge. Even in the Western European countries you see something weird going on. Which has the side-effect of making USA look better in comparison even if there wasn’t that big of a direction shift.

Where’s Ireland?