Why do we talk about “left” and “right” in politics?

Today, “left” and “right” are the main labels we use to categorise political views, but their origins go back over two centuries. To understand, we have to go back to the French Revolution in 1789.

That spring, France’s King Louis XVI convened a meeting known as the Estates General, bringing together representatives from three groups, or “Estates”: the clergy, the nobility, and the Third Estate, which represented the common people. A few months later, in July, this assembly became the Constituent Assembly.

Where did it all begin? Are there other kinds of political oppositions besides left and right? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue.

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