I have learned that a lot of us don’t actually know the meanings of the political language being used around us. Over the last year or so, I have learned some new terms so I wanted to help highlight them for you, so we can better understand what we read and hear in the news and online.
Terminology, alongside language in general, changes over time and across cultures. That’s what is so beautiful about language; it’s shaped by the people who use it and the times it’s used in.
This means that many words have lost their original meaning or have various meanings. Which, of course, can lead to dangerous misunderstandings and misinformation when spread online without context.
I was going to define every word and phrase but that would take a long time! So, I’ve gathered resources and places to start for you instead.
Why learn these meanings?
- To understand what you’re voting for come election time instead of being baffled by political jargon
- To understand what party leaders are talking about when making their promises
- To understand the key issues and tensions in your country/ community
- To ensure that you aren’t saying something that you don’t mean or agree with
- To help make your country better
- To hold conversations confidently
- To be better educated
- To help your fellow citizens!
Resources to help us
Popular critical theorist, lecturer and online personality Louisa Munch has an instagram account where she shares critical theory, political theory and social science resources with us. She has also listed some “skinny” books that can help us with our political knowledge.
GoodReads: Skinny_Books_Critical_Thinking_by_Louisa_Munch
Next, I have found some websites that list political terms, jargon, language etc in simple terms for us to access and better understand what’s going on:
- A Plain English Guide to Political Terms displayed as pictured below
Accounts I follow to educate myself when on social media
I like passive learning! Where you are learning things without even trying. This is why it’s important to follow accounts on social media who talk about real world issues with facts and resources to back them. These people I believe do that. I’ve included a variety for you to choose at your pleasure.
- Louisa Munch Theory – lecturer and Manchester university on critical theory
- Gary Stevenson / Gary’s Economics – economist and author
- Cody Dahler – comedian
- Grace Blakeley – politics and author
- Em_Clarkson – feminism, body positivity and politics
- Rachel Millward – Green Party
- Ashley James – feminism
- Mothin Ali – Green Party
- Hannah Spencer MP – Green Party
- Women Against Far Right
- Hope Not Hate
- Unjaded Jade – YouTuber but works in education reform
- Leena Norms – YouTuber and author with great videos on political issues at times
- Positive News – does what it says on the tin! Has a newsletter
- Ground News
- Lucas Joness poet – gorgeous poetry that comments on social issues
- Simple Politics
- Leonie/ The Book Leo / Curiouser and Curiouser podcast – YouTuber mostly about books but does some video essays and has a podcast that talks about trends and social issues
- Bold Politics
- The Green Party
- Zack Polanski
Concepts I started with:
Imperialism – “a system in which a country rules other countries, sometimes having used force to get power over them”; “the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies.“
Colonialism – “the control or governing influence of a nation over a dependent country, territory, or people.”; “Colonialism has to do with one country exploiting another country by making it into a colony. Which is usually good for the mother country and bad for the colony. Colonialism is a system in which one country creates an empire by taking over other lands and making them into colonies. Colonies don’t have power over themselves, and the mother country takes resources and money from the colony.”
Neoliberalism – “a political orientation originating in the 1960s; blends liberal political views with an emphasis on economic growth”; “a political orientation that favors social progress by reform and by changing laws rather than by revolution”
Left Wing – “The left wing is the group of voters and politicians who lean toward liberal, progressive, socialist, or radical political beliefs. Generally, the left wing advocates for social equality and bigger government.”
Right Wing – “those who support political or social or economic conservatism; those who believe that things are better left unchanged”
Far-right – “A narrative of racial and/or cultural threat to a ‘native’ group arising from
perceived alien groups within a society.”;
Far-left – “of or relating to extreme left wing ideals”
Comparison below from Far Left vs. Far Right – What’s the Difference? | This vs. That
Centre politics – “Center Left and Center Right are two political ideologies that fall in the middle of the political spectrum.”
Remigration – “the act of returning to one’s original or previous home after a migration“
Fascism / fascist – “a political system based on a very powerful leader, state control, and being extremely proud of country and race, and in which political opposition is not allowed” (Further reading on fascism: https://www.britannica.com/topic/fascism)
Socialism / socialist – “Socialism, social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources.”
Communism / communist – “communism, political and economic doctrine that aims to replace private property and a profit-based economy with public ownership and communal control of at least the major means of production (e.g., mines, mills, and factories) and the natural resources of a society. Communism is thus a form of socialism—a higher and more advanced form, according to its advocates.”
Political jargon we need to understand:
Please don’t assume you know the definitions of these words. You may think you know, but have been misinformed or misled. This is a long list, so take your time (as I am) to work through them and ensure you understand before the next elections in the UK.
- Political elite / class
- Oligarch
- Populism
- Totalitarianism
- Authoritarianism
- Virtue-signalling
- Woke
- “Trans Agenda”
- Green baiting
- Eco-washing
- Social justice
- Fake news
- AI
- Misinformation
- Disinformation
- Context
- Deep Fake
- Clickbait
- Transgender
- Toxic masculinity
- Pro-life
- Roe Versus Wade
- Class
- Caste
- Bias
- Echo Chamber
- Gaza
- Israeli
- Palestine
- Genocide
- Islamophobia
- Transphobia
- Sharia Law in the UK
- EDL and Tommy Robinson
- Nationalism
- Patriotism
- Globalism and Globalisation
- Universalism
- Tyranny
- Hegemony
- Ideology
- Borders
- Dominant social group
- Privilege
- Tariffs
- Marginalised peoples
- Diversity
- Minority
- Ethnicity
- LGBTQ+
- Public versus Private ownership / Privatisation
- Assets/ Wealth
- Wealth Tax
- Foreign
- Nationality
- Heritage
- Race
- Racism
- Lynch mob
- Citizenship
- Remittance
- Indigenous peoples
- Native American
- Aborigine
- Displaced peoples / displacement
- Foreign ownership
- Mother Tongue
- Working Class
- Welfare system
- Radicalisation / Radicalism
- Riot
- Deported
- ICE
- Immigrant
- Migrant / Migration
- Expatriate
- Refugee
- Asylum seeker
- Leave to Remain
- Visa
- Defund
- Decolonisation
- Intersectionality
- Censorship
- Dictatorship
- Propaganda
- Liberal
- Conservative
- Climate Crisis
- Police Brutality
- “Small boats” immigration
- Democracy
- Capitalism / Capitalist
- TERF
- Grooming Gangs
- National Action
- BNP
- Britain First
- Infidels
- White Supremacy
- Naturalise (related to migration)
- Symbolic order
- Conspiracy theory
- Incels
- Manosphere
Check out my other political posts here:
Sincerely,
S. xx
S. R. Crawford 