Green Politics
Green politics treats ecological sustainability as the foundation of all other policy. Green parties usually pair it with non-violence, grassroots democracy and social justice, and are sceptical of growth pursued for its own sake.
- Economic activity must stay within the limits of the planet's ecosystems.
- Power should be decentralised, and decisions should be made at the lowest practical level.
- Conflicts should be resolved without violence, with deep cuts in military spending.
Modern green politics grew out of the environmental and peace movements of the 1970s, prompted by works such as Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (1962) and the Club of Rome's The Limits to Growth (1972). The first green parties appeared in New Zealand and Tasmania in 1972. The German Greens, founded in 1980, set out the "four pillars" of ecology, social justice, grassroots democracy and non-violence, which green parties worldwide have adopted.
Opponents argue that green policies raise costs for households and industry, and that opposition to nuclear power has slowed decarbonisation. From the left, eco-socialists say it avoids confronting capitalism directly.
No country or historical regime in our data has Green Politics as its closest ideology.
Method: each ideology is placed at a typical position on the 12 axes, scored from 0 to 100 toward the first pole. Ranks compare it with the other 45 ideologies; matches are 100 minus the average distance across all axes. The positions are our own calibration, not taken from any third-party source.