The French Election Too Two-Dimensional Politics

Unless something real surprising happens, the French presidential election volition endure betwixt Marine Le Pen of the Front National as well as François Fillon, who of late won the primaries for a collection of parties (essentially the correct wing republican party). Fillon’s platform was extremely neoliberal. As Renee Buhr describes here:

“His policy proposals largely signal a small-scale government, depression taxation as well as complimentary marketplace approach to economical policy, spell his crusade rhetoric takes aim at the park ‘boogeymen’ cited yesteryear liberal politicians – authorities regulations, world expenditures, high taxes as well as world sector institutions as well as employees.“

This makes nosotros worried that Le Pen volition win.

If y'all come across politics every bit all most a left/right axis, my line of piece of occupation organization makes no sense. Choosing soul whose economical policy is real much to the correct of the centre/right parties should swallow into Le Pen’s support, spell those on the left volition vote (reluctantly) for the lesser of the ii correct wing parties. However this 1 dimensional sentiment is far also simplistic, as well as mayhap fatally therefore inward this case.

To illustrate why, I desire to briefly facial expression at a piece yesteryear Jonathan Wheatley, which uses U.K. politics earlier the 2015 election. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sample were asked their views on xxx unlike policy issues. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 technique was as well as then used to detect a designing inward the responses. The get-go interesting consequence was that the strongest designing was ii dimensional: at that topographic point seem to endure ii mutual factors underlying these responses. To quote:

“The get-go is an economical dimension, drawing on issues such every bit the mansion tax, the sleeping accommodation tax, as well as privatisation of the NHS. The minute is a cultural dimension, drawing on issues such every bit European Union membership, immigration, same-sex matrimony as well as English linguistic communication Votes for English linguistic communication Laws.”

We could say the cultural dimension was most identity, varying from communitarian to cosmopolitan views. He as well as then looks at the political political party people supported. Here is the result:

On the cultural dimension, political party supporters are where y'all would expect. But on economical issues UKIP supporters are less rather than to a greater extent than correct wing than Conservative political party supporters.

I know of no similar analysis that looks at French voters, but this does non affair for the dot I desire to make. Suppose nosotros purpose the same diagram to correspond a political party's policy position. In that illustration the expanse occupied yesteryear UKIP inward the diagram to a higher house does seem to agree to Front National policies. Their position on the identity axis is sure as shooting good to the due south of other parties, but their position on economical issues is far from neoliberal. In choosing who to vote for, the voter volition position themselves on the diagram, as well as facial expression for the political party that is closer to them inward this ii dimensional space. (Of course of pedagogy nosotros cannot purpose the diagram to genuinely mensurate distance, every bit the implicit weighting betwixt the ii aspects is arbitrary, as well as may non agree to that of the voter. But the conceptual declaration however works.)    

From this ii dimensional perspective, choosing a candidate to oppose Le Pen who is pretty correct win inward economical damage does zip to capture Front National voters. But to a greater extent than seriously, it risks losing the back upwards of left wing voters. While they may dislike Le Pen because of her opinion on immigration as well as other identity issues, Le Pen is to a greater extent than acceptable inward damage of economical policies than a real neoliberal candidate.