Traditionally, the Right and the Left have been associated with economics positions. In my part of the world, however, they each have different connotations. People often use right and left to identify stances on peace (left) and war (right), or issues of religiosity (right) and secularism (left).
Unfortunately, both expressions of the Right -- hawkish and religious -- are gaining ground. Hawks and supporters of Islamist movements (not always the same) have contradictory views toward globalization. Despite being opposed to banking interests, Islamists are generally in favor of free enterprise. But while right-wing Islamists might accept the economics of globalization, they are generally opposed to the effects of the related information revolution (although they benefit from it nonetheless).
Left wing secularists have a love-hate relationship with globalization. While vehemently opposing the right-wing Islamist members of their own societies, they are often also against globalization and the way it has increased poverty and unemployment by widening the gap between the rich and the poor. Remember, thirty-three billionaires come from the greater Middle East.
Please e-mail PostGlobal if you'd like to receive an email notification when PostGlobal sends out a new question.
Email Me | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
