A map with more dimensionsTwelve ways to see
the bigger picture.
Politics brings together many different questions. These scales keep them separate, so you can explore the trade-offs that matter to you.
01
Economy
How should society balance economic equality with market freedom?
Equality
This pole places more weight on reducing economic inequality through public services, redistribution, and worker protections.
↔Markets
This pole places more weight on competition, private enterprise, and individual economic choice.
02
Civil liberties
How much individual freedom should give way to public order?
Liberty
This pole places more weight on personal freedom, civil rights, and limits on state power.
↔Authority
This pole places more weight on public order, enforceable rules, and government capacity to keep people safe.
03
Decision-making
Who should have the strongest voice in public decisions?
Democracy
This pole favors broad public participation and decisions that remain accountable to voters.
↔Technocracy
This pole favors a larger decision-making role for specialists with relevant knowledge and experience.
04
Global relations
How should countries balance shared rules with national independence?
Cooperation
This pole favors international cooperation and shared commitments to solve problems across borders.
↔Sovereignty
This pole favors national control over laws, resources, and international commitments.
05
Security
What role should military power play in preventing and resolving conflict?
Diplomacy
This pole favors negotiation, conflict prevention, and restraint in the use of military force.
↔Militarism
This pole favors strong military readiness and a greater willingness to use force for security.
06
Migration
How open should a country be to people who want to move there?
Openness
This pole favors easier legal migration and greater opportunities for newcomers to settle and participate.
↔Restriction
This pole favors tighter entry rules and more control over the pace and scale of immigration.
07
Social change
How should society weigh new social norms against established customs?
Progress
This pole favors adapting institutions and social norms as people develop new ways of living.
↔Tradition
This pole favors preserving established customs and approaching social change with caution.
08
Religion & public life
How much influence should religious traditions have on public policy?
Secularism
This pole favors public institutions and laws that operate independently of religious doctrine.
↔Religious influence
This pole favors a meaningful role for religious traditions and moral teachings in public decisions.
09
Environment
How should environmental protection be weighed against economic expansion?
Ecology
This pole places more weight on ecological limits and environmental protection when they conflict with growth.
↔Growth
This pole places more weight on jobs, affordability, and economic expansion when environmental goals involve trade-offs.
10
Criminal justice
What should the criminal justice system prioritize after an offense?
Rehabilitation
This pole favors reducing reoffending through treatment, education, and reintegration into society.
↔Punishment
This pole favors proportionate penalties, accountability, and deterrence as central goals of justice.
11
Distribution of power
At what level should most public decisions be made?
Decentralization
This pole favors giving local and regional communities more authority over their own decisions.
↔Centralization
This pole favors coordinating decisions nationally to provide consistency and address shared needs.
12
Technology
How should society balance the risks of new technology with its potential benefits?
Precaution
This pole favors stronger safeguards and evidence of safety before powerful technologies are widely adopted.
↔Acceleration
This pole favors faster experimentation and adoption, with rules adapting as technologies develop.