Political Terms Glossary
Political terms from the 12 axes test, explained in plain English. Explore definitions, real examples and the arguments on both sides.
Find a political term
17 terms
- Collectivize vs PrivatizeUniversal basic income (UBI)Universal basic income (UBI) is a regular cash payment from the government to every citizen, with no means test and no work requirement.
- Isolationism vs GlobalismProtectionismProtectionism is the policy of shielding a country’s domestic industries from foreign competition, usually with tariffs, import quotas or subsidies.
- Acceleration vs BioconservativeTranshumanismTranshumanism is the belief that humans should use science and technology to overcome biological limits such as aging, disease and limited intelligence.
- Democratic vs AutocraticSuffrageSuffrage is the right to vote in political elections. “Universal suffrage” means the right belongs to all adult citizens, and “secret suffrage” means votes are cast in private.
- Irreligious vs ReligiousTheocracyA theocracy is a system of government in which religious leaders or religious law hold ultimate authority, and the state is seen as serving a divine order.
- Federal vs UnitarySecedeTo secede is to formally withdraw from a political union, such as a state, a federation or a country, usually to become independent.
- Progressive vs TraditionalThe EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that stressed reason, science, individual rights and skepticism of traditional authority.
- Progressive vs TraditionalAffirmative actionAffirmative action refers to policies that give weight to a person’s membership in an under-represented or historically disadvantaged group in areas such as education and employment, to widen access and correct past discrimination.
- Democratic vs AutocraticAutocracyAn autocracy is a system of government in which one person or a small group holds unlimited power, with few or no effective checks from elections, courts or a free press.
- Nationalism vs InternationalismBlocsA bloc is a group of countries, or of political parties, that act together on shared interests, such as a trade bloc, a military alliance or a voting bloc.
- Federal vs UnitaryHierarchical stateA hierarchical state is a state organized as a chain of command, in which each level of government answers to the level above it and ultimate authority rests at the top.
- Collectivize vs PrivatizeLand reformLand reform is the redistribution or restructuring of land ownership by the state, often to give more land to small farmers and tenants and to reduce concentrated holdings.
- Federal vs UnitaryNational governmentA national government is the government that holds authority over an entire country, as distinct from regional, state or local governments.
- Democratic vs AutocraticReferendumA referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to accept or reject a specific proposal, such as a law, a constitutional change or a question of independence.
- Irreligious vs ReligiousSharia lawSharia is the body of religious law and ethical guidance in Islam, drawn from the Quran, the example of the Prophet Muhammad and scholarly interpretation. How it is applied in state law varies widely between countries.
- Progressive vs TraditionalSocial constructA social construct is an idea or category that exists because people in a society have agreed to treat it as real, rather than because of an objective fact of nature.
- Planned vs Laissez-faireSubsidizeTo subsidize is to give financial support, usually from the government, to a person, firm or industry so that a good or service costs less or is more widely available.
Why does the test use these terms?
Political words are easy to half-know, and a statement is only a fair question if you know what it asks.
Real wording, real debates
The statements use the words people actually argue with, so your answers match what you would say in a conversation.
Explained where you need it
In the test, a word with a dotted underline opens a short definition without leaving the statement.
No jargon barrier
You do not need to study first. Each page defines the term in its first sentence, then adds examples and both sides of the argument.
Which axis does each term belong to?
Every term sits on one of the 12 axes. Here they are by category, so you can see which question each word helps answer.
Governmental
6 termsHow power is organized and limited: between levels of government, between rulers and citizens, and between safety and liberty.
Diplomatic
1 termHow a country relates to the world and to cultural difference: nation or world, force or peace, blending or diversity.
Economic
4 termsWho owns and directs the economy, and how open it should be to the rest of the world.
Societal
6 termsReligion, social change and technology: the values that shape how people live together.
Frequently asked questions
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See the terms in context
Take the test and tap any underlined word for a quick definition, without losing your place.