Radical Centrism, shortened to RadCent is a term used to describe an ideology that advocates for radical change and measures, with an emphasis on pragmatism over ideology.
The essence of Radical Centrism can be described as something along the lines of “ideological grocery shopping”. It uses policy positions from any ideology across the political spectrum in a non-partisan pragmatic way to solve individual issues with the fundamental goal of reforming institutions.
History
TBA
Foundations and Beliefs
Radical centrism is a concept that arose in Western nations in the late 20th century. Despite being conflated with ideologies such as syncretism, dead centrism, moderatism, radical liberalism or anti-extremism, it is actually a “meta ideology” that may incorporate elements of these frameworks. Radical centrism, instead of actively searching for a compromise between extremist ideologies like a dead or moderate centrist, is willing to use radical solutions. It uses individual policy proposals from across the political spectrum in a pragmatic way that does not fall upon partisan lines. There are no clearly defined policies for radical centrists but the ideology places a heavy emphasis on pragmatism over ideology, going so far as to call themselves “unideological” or “anti-ideological” due to their willingness to break through party lines to solve systems. Radical centrists borrow ideas from the left and the right, often melding them together and incorporating aspects that are complementary. It should be noted that although the radical centrist has a tendency towards moderate solutions, he isn’t above radical solutions. There is support for the growth of an empowered middle class. General policies common to many radical centrists and radical centrist literature include-
1. A commitment to fiscal responsibility, even if it means reducing social programs.
2. A commitment to market-based solutions in health care, education, energy, the environment etc so long as the solutions are carefully regulated by the government to serve the public good. The policy goal, says Matthew Miller, is to "harness market forces for public purposes".
3. A commitment to providing jobs for everyone willing to work, by subsidizing jobs in the private sector.
4. A commitment to need-based rather than race, gender or other identity-based affirmative action; more generally, a commitment to identity-neutral ideals.
5. A commitment to participate in institutions and processes of global governance.
6. A commitment to decentralization of power to limit corruption through methods such as a Swiss-style direct democracy
Personality
RadCent when in contact with other ideologies will try to get them to "peacefully talk it out" and often incorporate their policies into their own framework. He can be quite commanding in the presence of other ideologies when he needs to be due to being more coherent and radical (get it?) than other centrist ideologies. He can get hypnotized by the four quadrants, tricking him into accepting policies from all around the compass.
How to Draw
- Draw a ball with eyes.
- Fill it in grey.
- "Carve out" 4 arrows from the 4 cardinal directions of the ball pointing towards the centre of the ball.
- Separate each arrow into 2 parts around the center of each arrow.
- Fill the sections of the ball with the color of each of the political compass that corresponds to the relative area on the political compass.
Color Name | HEX | RGB | |
---|---|---|---|
Grey | #778899 | 119, 136, 153 | |
Pale red | #FF6262 | 255, 98, 98 | |
Pale blue | #00B1FF | 0, 177, 255 | |
Pale yellow | #FFFF80 | 255, 255, 128 | |
Pale green | #00FF88 | 0, 255, 136 |
Relationships
Radical Union
- Third Way - My sweet adopted child.
- Big Tent Liberalism - Were we separated at birth?
- Progressive Conservatism - I admire your pragmatic way of solving cultural issues.
- Archeofuturism & Reactionary Modernism - Best stances on technology.
- Capitalist Communism & State Capitalism - Love your economics.
- Machiavellianism - Actual policies over useless dogma.
- Radicalism - Radical Centrist Gang! You did a great job back in the day.
Wait, you are no longer radical? Shame. - Neo-Keynesian Economics - Synthesizing neoclassical and Keynesian economics to solve problems demonstrated by empirical proof? That's the pragmatic and scientific spirit I want to see!
- Corporatism - Class collaboration pragmatism.
- Class Dealignment - Pretty much me but more focused on just economics.
- Scientocracy & Technoliberalism - Objective science and merit over ideological infighting.
- Radical Democracy - The best form of democracy.
- Ciudadanism - The most based party in Spain.
- La Plaineism - French revolutionary ideologies must be united.
Misguided Centrists
- Moderatism - He agrees both sides should compromise, but he also thinks being radical is bad.
- Horseshoe Centrism - Says there's no difference between balance and imbalance as if that makes much sense.
- Dead Centrism - Both sides may be bad, but this "exactly 50%" thing seems rather impractical. Also, I hate when people constantly stereotype me as if I'm you.
"You have some good ideas, but you should consider some compromise with them"
- Neoliberalism - How about partially open borders and less outsourcing?
- Neoconservatism - Just bomb the uncompromising ideologies but maybe don’t forget the nation building?
- Conservatism - How about preserving traditions but still embracing progress in some areas?
- Progressivism - How about progress in some aspects of society but still keeping some heritage?
- Social Democracy - How about affordable healthcare and education?
- Social Liberalism - How about necessary state intervention in the economy?
- Civil Libertarianism and Liberalism - How about free speech and limited government except when it's anti-compromise?
- Fiscal Conservatism - How about some fiscal responsibility as long as it doesn't go against the welfare of the people?
- Keynesian School - How about responsible money printing?
- Piratism - How about we loosen copyright to a certain extent while still allowing artists to own their creations?
- Christian Democracy - How about a little bit of religion in government but we maintain separation of church and state?
- Secularism - And how about we separate church and state but still allow them to have some influence?
- Socialism - How about we have some workers' rights and public property?
- Capitalism - How about we allow free trade and private property to a certain extent?
- Corporatocracy - How about we allow only some corporate power?
- Libertarianism and Classical Liberalism - How about some corporate freedom but we regulate them when things get out of control?
- Authoritarianism - How about having a strong government but allowing the people to speak out?
- Nationalism - How about praising your nation unless it does something wrong?
- Globalism - How about uniting humanity but giving them some independence?
- Industrialism - How about we industrialize but still preserve some natural sites?
- Environmentalism - We can fight climate change without hurting too much the economy and local production, what do you think?
- Neoluddism - We can call out the problems of the Industrial Society without completely getting rid of it?
- Transhumanism - We can embrace technology without radically altering humanity, don't think so?
- Alt-Lite, Right-Wing Populism & National Conservatism - How about combating the excesses of globalism, multiculturalism, and progressivism while maintaining their good aspects? Also to some of your more net-savvy followers, how about actually compromising instead of just hijacking my name to look good?
- Alter-Globalism, Left-Wing Populism & Democratic Socialism - And how about opposing the excesses of traditionalism, free-market capitalism, and corporate power while maintaining their good aspects too?
- Police Statism - How about a limited police force?
- Stratocracy - And a limited military?
- Mediacracy - What about a limited mass media influence on society?
- Meritocracy & Technocracy - Yes, you are very intelligent and skilled, but that doesn't mean you get to dictate all of society, because all opinions including those from ordinary people are equally important feedback to our society. I find they are much more preferable to you two.
- Liberal Socialism & Market Socialism - Honestly not too bad by socialist standards, but I'd still rather just have decent worker's rights and a solid enough social welfare system than an eventual goal of complete social ownership.
- Welfare Chauvinism - How about we defend the welfare state and put the citizens of your nation first without completely rejecting internationalism and free trade?
- Trumpism - You used to be cooler in 2000. Why did you leave me for this guy? Also, can you stop gatekeeping people like my friend here? Whether they are RINOs or not does not matter because I support the Reform party anyway (the one you sadly abandoned).
- National Liberalism - We both like Albert Rivera, Ross Perot, Michael Lind and early Donald Trump, but overall you're a mixed bag. Like the other ideologies here btw.
- European Federalism - The EU does have its problems, but we can still improve it.
- Social Libertarianism & Steiner-Vallentyne School - How about some state power? But Yang is based.
- Ordo-Liberalism & Social Capitalism - Similar to the above, if a bit less "tilted".
- Contrarianism - How about making valid criticisms of the status quo instead of blindly hating it? Seriously, a lot of you guys make me close to putting you in the enemies section.
Uncompromising Morons
- Anti-Centrism - You are just me but wacky. Stop denying it.
- Anti-Realism - Even worse than the above.
- Marxism & Fascism - Stop saying I'm a right/left-winger with a mask. I have elements of both, and that's a good thing.
- Posadism & Esoteric Fascism - Like the two guys before but on crack, steroids, and other weird drugs.
- Reactionaryism - Not all social progress is evil degeneracy.
- Revolutionary Progressivism - And not all traditions are evil oppression.
- Anarcho-Capitalism, Minarchism & Austrian School - The tiniest bit of regulation and public property isn't communism you utter idiots!
- Anarcho-Communism, Luxemburgism & Left Communism - Just as much as the tiniest bit of markets and private property isn't the oppression of workers. Also, someone get the latter guy to stop being such a lazy snob already.
- State Liberalism - I'M NOT A CRYPTO-REACTIONARY!!!!! ALSO, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE?!
- Anti-Radicalism - Radicalization is good, get that through your skull.
- Apoliticism & Radical Apoliticism - Apathy and antipathy aren't going to get us anywhere! Everyone MUST devout ourselves to our sacred centrist cause.
- Anarcho-Nihilism & Acid Communism - More antipathetic edgelords.
- All other Off-Compass ideologies - You are ALL insane, and I'm not exaggerating.
Further Information
Literature
- Independent Nation (2004) by John Avlon
- Toward a Radical Middle (1969) by Renata Adler
- Stalking the Radical Middle (1995) by Joe Klein
- The Radical Center (2001) by Ted Halstead and Micheal Lind
- The Two Percent Solution (2003) by Matthew Miller
- Radical Middle (2004) by Mark Satin
- Ethical Realism (2006) by Anatol Lieven and John Hulsman
- Break Through (2007) by Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger
- Food from the Radical Center (2018) by Gary Paul Nadhan
- Winning the Race (2005) by John McWhorter
- Unfinished Business (2016) by Anne-Marie Slaugher
- Try Common Sense (2019) by Philip K. Howard
- The Origin of Wealth (2006) by Eric Beinhoker
- How to Run the World (2011) by Philip K. Howard
- The Righteous Mind (2012) by Jonathan Haidt
- Voice of the People (2008) by Lawrence Chikering
- Radical Middle: Confessions of an Accidental Revolutionary (2010) by Dennis Becket
- On New and Radical Centrism (2018) by Alexandru Filip
- The Time for Radical Centrism Has Come (2018) by Micheal D. Fricklas
- The Radical Middle: Building Bridges Between the Muslim and Western Worlds (2012)
- Road to Generation Equity (1995) by Tim Penny, Richard Lamm and Paul Tsongas
- An Invitation to Join the Radical Center (2003) by Gary Paul Nabhan
- Ground Rules for Civil Society: A Radical Centrist Manifesto (2003) by Ernest Prabhakar
- The Cape York Agenda (2009) by Noel Pearson
- Ten Big Ideas for a New America (2007) by New America Foundation
- Depolarizing the American Mind (2014) by Steve McIntosh and Carter Phipps
- Radix: Think Tank for the Radical Centre (2016) by David Boyle
- California for All (2019) by Michael Shellenberger
Criticism
- The Radical Centre: A Politics Without Adversary (1998) by Chantal Mouffe
- Beware the Radical Center (2017) by Ryan Shah
Videos
- Radical Centrism || Ideology Review by Jreg
- The Drawing That Explains Political Divides by Ryan Chapman
Wikipedia
Organizations
Online Communities
Gallery
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