Reference guide
The 12 political axes, explained
Read each dimension separately before interpreting a complete test result. These pages define the model used on 12axes.live; they are not claims that politics has one universal set of axes.
Collectivism vs Individualism
How should ownership, risk, and economic rewards be shared?
CollectivismIndividualism AXIS 02 · Civil / StateAuthoritarian vs Libertarian
How much power should the state hold over individual conduct?
AuthoritarianLibertarian AXIS 03 · DiplomaticGlobalism vs Nationalism
Should political obligations reach beyond national borders?
GlobalismNationalism AXIS 04 · SocietalProgressivism vs Traditionalism
How should society respond to changing norms and institutions?
ProgressivismTraditionalism AXIS 05 · TechnologicalTranshumanism vs Primitivism
Should technology transform human capabilities or be deliberately limited?
TranshumanismPrimitivism AXIS 06 · EnvironmentalEcologism vs Productivism
When growth and ecological limits conflict, which should take priority?
EcologismProductivism AXIS 07 · JusticeRehabilitative vs Punitive
Should justice prioritize reintegration or punishment?
RehabilitativePunitive AXIS 08 · HierarchyEgalitarianism vs Hierarchy
How much social hierarchy is legitimate or useful?
EgalitarianismHierarchy AXIS 09 · ReligiousSecularism vs Theocracy
What role should religious authority play in public law?
SecularismTheocracy AXIS 10 · MilitaryPacifism vs Militarism
How readily should political goals rely on military force?
PacifismMilitarism AXIS 11 · OperationalReformism vs Revolution
Should political change work through existing institutions or replace them?
ReformismRevolution AXIS 12 · InformationOpen-source vs Proprietary
Should knowledge and technical systems be open to inspect and reuse?
Open-sourceProprietaryWant a profile instead of definitions?
Answer the 60 statements and see how the twelve dimensions combine.