The Third Way is a centrist approach that tries to combine market economics and fiscal prudence with social justice, often described as a path between old-style socialism and free-market conservatism.
Key thinkers:Nelson Mandela, John Rawls, Adam SmithTake the test and your match with Third Way shows up here. It is worked out in your browser and never sent anywhere.
Associated with Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Gerhard Schröder in the 1990s, the Third Way accepted globalization and markets while emphasizing education, work incentives and targeted social programs.
Its supporters call it pragmatic and modern; its critics say it moved center-left parties too far toward the market.
The ideas that most people in this tradition would sign up to.
It emerged in the 1990s as left-of-center parties sought to win elections after years of conservative dominance.
Thinkers whose documented positions on the 12 axes align most closely with this ideology.
South African president · 1918–2013
A South African lawyer imprisoned for 27 years for his part in the fight against apartheid, who became the first president elected by all South Africans in 1994.
“Multilateral international engagement and peaceful solidarity among African nations.”
Harvard political philosopher · 1921–2002
An American philosopher who proposed that just institutions are those people would choose behind a veil of ignorance, with equal basic liberties and inequalities only where they help the worst off.
“First principle of justice guarantees an extensive scheme of equal basic liberties.”
Scottish moral philosopher & economist · 1723–1790
A Scottish moral philosopher whose Wealth of Nations explained how specialisation and competition create wealth, and who criticised monopolies and trade restrictions.
“Attacks mercantilism and champions international free trade and division of labor.”
These are its strongest leanings, followed by all twelve axes. They describe the typical version of the tradition.
Leans very strongly toward Democratic
90% toward Democratic
Leans strongly toward Globalism
82% toward Globalism
Leans strongly toward Progressive
74% toward Progressive
Editorial estimates for comparison and discussion. Real people and parties in this tradition vary.
Countries whose estimated profile is most like this ideology. No country follows a single ideology, so read this as a comparison, not a label.
Every tradition has critics. These are the objections most often raised.
Something else on your mind? Get in touch
The test scores you on all twelve axes and ranks every ideology by how well it matches you.
