OOC:
@SouthernKing
What's the difference between Conservative, Moderate, and Liberal? Yes, I do have a general idea of what they are, but I'd just like to hear what your interpretation of those ideologies are for this NES.
Tell you what, I'll actually define all of them, for everyone's benefit. These are, of course, generalizations, and may apply differently depending on the country in question.
Reactionary: Reactionaries actively seek to return to a previous state of government, rolling back existing reforms and strengthening traditional institutions, such as absolute monarchy and landed aristocracy, and in some cases the further empowerment of the military. In non-western contexts, reactionaries are those figures that are virulently nativist and anti-western, opposing any interaction with the west whatsoever.
Conservative: Conservatives mostly argue for the preservation of the status quo, without further reforms, but largely without rolling back existing reforms as is the case with reactionaries. They also pursue protectionist trade and economic policies, and in many cases increased power to the military. Conservatives are usually supported by the establishment, whoever that may be, as well as the military, and some of the lower classes. Conservatives in non-western contexts favor limited interaction with the west, but no more.
Moderate: Moderates take a middle ground between reform and reaction, favoring limited reform, but not going too far. In non-western contexts, moderates are usually the ones favoring extensive interaction with the west while continuing to maintain a native culture and traditions, and moderates are the ones responsible for the modernization of the non-western countries that have successfully done so.
Liberal: Liberals are reformers, seeking continued strengthening of constitutional, democratic, and popular institutions, at the expense of monarchical autocracy, the entrenched aristocracy, and similar institutions. Liberals in this era also argue in favor of free trade and open markets, with reduced government involvement. Liberals gain support from business, segments of the upper classes, and the burgeoning middle class. In non-western contexts, liberals represent those arguing for full opening up to the west; needless to say, they are not common there.
Republican: Republicans consist of the radical reformists and revolutionaries who seek a transformation of society. Republicans, true to their name, seek the abolishment of the monarchy, and the immediate empowerment of the masses; some countries call them "Jacobins." In fact, some labelled republican are borderline socialist. Republicans gain their support base largely from students, the lower classes, and other disaffected in society. The revolutionaries that helped create the current European republics would have been labelled republicans in their day.
Nationalist: Nationalists primarily believe that the government should be the embodiment of the nation-state, and further the interests of the controlling ethnic group of that nation-state. In doing so, nationalists frequently transcend the political spectrum. Nationalists frequently have support from the military in particular. Nationalists of minorities seek greater autonomy/self-determination/independence from the majority group. In certain contexts, particularly where one ethnic group is divided between multiple countries (Germany being the most prominent example), nationalists argue in favor of the creation of a single state for said ethnic group.
While there have been some thinkers advocating what we'd call socialism, they're usually classified under "Republican." There hasn't been a Karl Marx equivalent so far, and no unifying left-wing ideology has been created. Yet.
