Politics Explained

91 political terms and abbreviations in plain English, from the left–right scale to civic nationalism and PMQs.

For education only. Definitions describe how terms are commonly used, not judgements about any person or group. Each links to a dictionary or official reference.

The political scale

← LeftRight →

91 terms

Anarchism: Belief that society should exist without government or the state.; Most anarchist traditions are on the left.; IdeologiesBritannica
Antisemitism: Hostility or prejudice against Jewish people.; The UK government adopted the IHRA working definition in 2016.; Ethnicity & societyCambridge Dictionary
Assimilation: Newcomers adopting the host country's culture fully.; Often contrasted with multiculturalism.; Ethnicity & societyCambridge Dictionary
Asylum seeker: Someone who has asked for protection as a refugee and is awaiting a decision.; Once granted, they become a refugee.; Ethnicity & societyGOV.UK immigration statistics
Authoritarian vs libertarian axis: A second scale measuring how much control the state should have over individuals.; Used by tools such as political compass charts: authoritarian means more state control; libertarian means more personal freedom.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Authoritarianism: Strong central power with limited political freedoms.; Can exist on the left or right.; IdeologiesBritannica
BAMEBlack, Asian and Minority Ethnic: Collective term for non-white ethnic groups.; The UK government stopped recommending it in 2021 in favour of naming specific groups.; Ethnicity & societyONS / GOV.UK ethnicity facts
Bill / Act: A bill is a proposed law; once passed and given Royal Assent it becomes an Act.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
Brexit: The UK's departure from the EU, completed 31 January 2020.; Decided in the 2016 referendum (52% Leave, 48% Remain).; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
By-election: An election in one seat between general elections.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
Capitalism: Economic system based on private ownership and free markets.; Most modern economies mix capitalism with some state involvement.; IdeologiesBritannica
Centre / Centrism: Views that balance left and right, favouring moderation and compromise.; Centrists typically pick policies case by case and avoid strong ideological positions.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Centre-left: Supports a market economy combined with strong welfare and public services.; Often called social democratic. Seeks reform through elected government rather than radical change.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Centre-right: Supports free markets, lower taxes and tradition, within democratic norms.; Includes mainstream conservative and Christian-democratic parties. Accepts a welfare state but prefers it smaller.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Civic nationalismCiv-Nat: Nationhood based on shared citizenship, laws and values — open to anyone who joins and accepts them.; Membership comes from belonging to the political community rather than ancestry. 'Civ-Nat' is shorthand used online, sometimes critically by ethnic nationalists.; Nationalism & identityBritannica
Coalition: Two or more parties governing together.; E.g. Conservative–Liberal Democrat 2010–15.; UK politics & abbreviationsCambridge Dictionary
Communism: Aims for a classless society with common ownership of property.; Based on Marx and Engels; in practice associated with one-party states such as the USSR and China.; IdeologiesBritannica
Conservatism: Values tradition, stability and gradual change.; Associated with Edmund Burke; in the UK the Conservative Party.; IdeologiesBritannica
DEIDiversity, Equity and Inclusion: Policies aimed at representing and including different groups in organisations.; Supporters see it as fairness; critics argue some practices conflict with merit or equal treatment law.; IdeologiesCambridge Dictionary
Devolution: Transfer of powers from Westminster to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
ECHREuropean Convention on Human Rights: Human rights treaty of the Council of Europe (not the EU), enforced by the Strasbourg court.; UK politics & abbreviationsCouncil of Europe
Ethnic nationalismEthno-Nat, ethnonationalism: Nationhood based on shared ancestry, ethnicity, language or culture.; Membership is seen as inherited rather than chosen. Some forms exclude people of other ethnicities from full belonging.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
Ethnicity: A group sharing culture, ancestry, language or traditions.; In UK statistics, people choose their own ethnic group.; Ethnicity & societyONS / GOV.UK ethnicity facts
Euroscepticism: Opposition to or doubt about the European Union.; Led in the UK to the 2016 Brexit referendum.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
Extreme leftHard left: The furthest-left positions, often rejecting parliamentary democracy or private property entirely.; Usually describes groups seeking revolutionary change, abolition of capitalism, and sometimes the use of force. Governments use the term for groups that reject democratic processes.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Extreme right: The furthest-right positions, often rejecting democracy or equal rights.; Typically describes racial supremacist, fascist or violent groups that reject democratic processes.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Extremism: Holding extreme views, especially ones that justify violence or reject democracy.; The UK government publishes its own definition of extremism (2024), focusing on ideologies based on violence, hatred or intolerance.; SpectrumGOV.UK definition of extremism
Far leftRadical left: Views well to the left of mainstream parties, such as wide public ownership.; Can include revolutionary socialists, communists and some anarchists. Not all far-left groups reject elections.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Far rightRadical right: Views well to the right of mainstream parties, often strongly nationalist and anti-immigration.; Commonly applied to groups stressing national or ethnic identity and opposing immigration or multiculturalism. The label is contested and is sometimes applied loosely in debate.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Fascism: Authoritarian nationalism under a single leader, suppressing opposition.; Associated with Mussolini's Italy (1922–43).; IdeologiesBritannica
FPTPFirst past the post: Voting system where the candidate with the most votes in each seat wins.; Used for UK general elections.; UK politics & abbreviationsElectoral Commission
Globalism: Policies or views that place the world or international institutions ahead of national interest.; Often used critically by nationalists; supporters prefer 'internationalism'.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
Great Replacement theory: A conspiracy theory that elites are deliberately replacing native populations with immigrants.; Distinct from debate about immigration levels. Governments and researchers classify it as a conspiracy theory.; Nationalism & identityBritannica
Green politics: Puts the environment, sustainability and climate at the centre of policy.; Represented in the UK by the Green parties.; IdeologiesBritannica
House of Lords: The unelected second chamber that reviews laws.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
Hung parliament: When no party has a majority in the Commons.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
Identity politics: Politics organised around shared identity such as race, religion, sex or nationality.; Used across the spectrum.; IdeologiesCambridge Dictionary
Indigenous / native: The original or long-established people of a place.; In British debate sometimes used for White British people; usage is contested.; Ethnicity & societyCambridge Dictionary
Integration: Newcomers taking part fully in society while keeping some of their own culture.; The government's integration strategy focuses on language, jobs and mixing.; Ethnicity & societyCambridge Dictionary
Internationalism: Support for cooperation between nations.; Associated with bodies like the UN.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
Irregular / illegal migrant: Someone who enters or stays in a country without legal permission.; The Home Office uses 'irregular migration', e.g. small boat arrivals.; Ethnicity & societyGOV.UK irregular migration statistics
Islamism: Political movement seeking government according to Islamic law.; Distinct from Islam the religion. Violent forms are called jihadism.; Ethnicity & societyBritannica
Islamophobia / anti-Muslim hatred: Prejudice or hostility towards Muslims or Islam.; There is no single legal UK definition; the government consulted on one in 2025.; Ethnicity & societyCambridge Dictionary
Left wing: Favours equality, public services, workers' rights and a larger role for the state.; In the UK usually associated with Labour, the Greens and others who support redistribution and strong public services.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Liberalism: Stresses individual rights, freedom, the rule of law and limited government.; Classical liberalism favours free markets; modern (social) liberalism accepts more state action.; IdeologiesBritannica
Libertarianism: Maximum individual freedom and minimal government.; Can be right-leaning (free markets) or left-leaning (libertarian socialism).; IdeologiesBritannica
Loyalism: In Northern Ireland: strong loyalty to the British Crown and the Union.; Related to unionism.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
Manifesto: A party's published promises before an election.; UK politics & abbreviationsCambridge Dictionary
Marxism: Ideas of Karl Marx, seeing history as a struggle between economic classes.; Influences communism, socialism and many academic theories.; IdeologiesBritannica
Moderate: Someone whose views are not extreme.; Can be used on either side of the spectrum, e.g. a moderate conservative.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
MPMember of Parliament: Elected representative in the House of Commons; there are 650.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
MSP / MS / MLA: Members of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and Northern Ireland Assembly.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
Multiculturalism: Many cultures existing side by side, each keeping its identity.; Supporters see diversity as strength; critics argue it can hinder shared identity.; Ethnicity & societyCambridge Dictionary
Nationalism: Belief that a nation should govern itself and its interests come first.; Takes civic or ethnic forms.; Nationalism & identityBritannica
Nativism: Favouring existing inhabitants over immigrants.; Often linked with restrictive immigration views.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
NazismNational Socialism: Ideology of Hitler's Nazi Party, based on racial supremacy and antisemitism.; Led to the Holocaust and the Second World War.; IdeologiesBritannica
Neo-Nazism: Post-1945 movements seeking to revive Nazi ideas.; Several neo-Nazi groups are proscribed (banned) in the UK under terrorism law.; IdeologiesGOV.UK proscribed groups
Neoliberalism: Favours free markets, deregulation, privatisation and lower public spending.; Often linked with Thatcher and Reagan in the 1980s.; IdeologiesBritannica
Net migration: People arriving to live minus people leaving.; Published by the ONS twice a year.; Ethnicity & societyONS
NGONon-governmental organisation: A charity or group independent of government.; UK politics & abbreviationsCambridge Dictionary
ONS ethnic groups: The five high-level groups used in official UK statistics: Asian, Black, Mixed, White, Other.; Each splits into 19 detailed groups in the census, e.g. White British, Indian, Black Caribbean.; Ethnicity & societyONS / GOV.UK ethnicity facts
Patriotism: Love of and loyalty to one's country.; Usually distinguished from nationalism as not implying superiority over others.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
PMPrime Minister: Head of the UK government, usually the leader of the largest party in the Commons.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
PMQsPrime Minister's Questions: Weekly session where MPs question the Prime Minister, Wednesdays at noon.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
Political spectrum: A way of arranging political views from left to right.; The left–right line comes from the French Revolution, when supporters of the king sat on the right and supporters of change on the left. It is a simplification: many people hold views from different parts of it.; SpectrumBritannica
Populism: Politics presenting 'ordinary people' against an 'elite'.; Can be left-wing or right-wing.; IdeologiesBritannica
PRProportional representation: Voting systems where seats match each party's share of votes.; Used in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland elections in mixed forms.; UK politics & abbreviationsCambridge Dictionary
ProgressivismProgressive: Support for social reform and change.; Today usually associated with the left.; IdeologiesCambridge Dictionary
Quango: A publicly funded body operating at arm's length from ministers.; UK politics & abbreviationsCambridge Dictionary
Race: Grouping people by physical traits such as skin colour.; A protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.; Ethnicity & societyEquality and Human Rights Commission
Racism: Unfair treatment or hostility towards people because of their race.; Illegal discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010.; Ethnicity & societyCambridge Dictionary
Radical: Wanting complete or far-reaching change.; Can describe people on the left or right; it does not by itself imply violence.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Refugee: Someone recognised as fleeing persecution under the 1951 Refugee Convention.; Ethnicity & societyUNHCR
Remigration: Proposal for migrants (sometimes their descendants) to return to countries of origin.; Ranges from voluntary return schemes to forced removal. Strongly contested.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
Republicanism: In the UK: support for replacing the monarchy with an elected head of state. In Northern Ireland: support for a united Ireland.; Meaning depends on context.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
Right wing: Favours tradition, national identity, free enterprise and a smaller state.; In the UK usually associated with the Conservatives, Reform UK and others stressing order, sovereignty and lower taxes.; SpectrumCambridge Dictionary
Sectarianism: Conflict or prejudice between religious groups or denominations.; E.g. Catholic/Protestant tensions in Northern Ireland and Scotland.; Ethnicity & societyCambridge Dictionary
SeparatismIndependence movement: Seeking independence for a region from a larger state.; E.g. Scottish independence or Irish republicanism.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
SNP / DUP / SDLP: Scottish National Party; Democratic Unionist Party; Social Democratic and Labour Party.; Main parties in Scotland and Northern Ireland.; UK politics & abbreviationsElectoral Commission register
Social democracy: Combines a market economy with a strong welfare state.; Common in Scandinavia and in Labour's traditions.; IdeologiesBritannica
Socialism: Belief that key industries and wealth should be owned or controlled by the community.; Ranges from democratic socialism (achieved by elections) to revolutionary forms.; IdeologiesBritannica
SovereigntySovereigntism: A nation's full power to govern itself without outside control.; Central to the Brexit debate.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
SpAdSpecial adviser: Politically appointed adviser to a minister.; UK politics & abbreviationsGOV.UK
Totalitarianism: A state that seeks to control every part of public and private life.; Examples include Nazi Germany and Stalin's USSR.; IdeologiesBritannica
Traditionalism: Preference for established customs, religion and institutions.; Often part of conservative thought.; IdeologiesCambridge Dictionary
Unionism: Support for keeping the UK together (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland).; Especially used in Northern Ireland and Scotland.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
Whip: Party official who makes sure MPs vote with the party; also the instruction itself.; Losing the whip means being suspended from the party in Parliament.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
White nationalism: Belief that white people should have their own nation or political dominance.; Generally treated as extreme-right and closely related to racial supremacist ideas.; Nationalism & identityCambridge Dictionary
White paper / Green paper: Government documents: green papers consult, white papers set out firm plans.; UK politics & abbreviationsUK Parliament glossary
Woke: Originally: alert to injustice, especially racism. Now often used critically.; Supporters use it for awareness of discrimination; critics use it for what they see as excessive identity politics.; IdeologiesCambridge Dictionary
Xenophobia: Fear or dislike of people from other countries.; Ethnicity & societyCambridge Dictionary