Do Left and Right Mean Anything?

Note to Attendees: Please consider making a $5 donation to contribute to the running costs of this Meetup.

“Left” and “Right” are among the most common labels in politics, but it’s not always clear what they really mean. They’re used to sort parties, ideas and identities, yet their meaning often shifts depending on the country, the issue or the moment in history.

As Friedrich Hayek observed, “the position which in one country is taken by the defenders of freedom may in another be held by the opponents of freedom”, which captures part of the problem. These categories can sometimes clarify debate, but they can also confuse it.

At our next Brisbane meetup, we’ll explore whether the political categories of left and right still mean anything useful — or whether they now obscure more than they explain.
The questions we will address are:

1. Do “left” and “right” still describe meaningful political differences, or are they outdated labels?
2. Do people adopt political positions first and justify them later?
3. Are political identities driven more by culture than by policy?
4. If left and right no longer work, what framework should we use instead?

This event will be held at The Osbourne Hotel in Fortitude Valley.
After the discussion, we’ll stay on for a meal and a drink together — a chance to continue the conversation in a more relaxed setting and support the venue.

PLEASE NOTE:
Please support the venue by purchasing a drink or meal during the event.
This is intended to be a good-natured but robust discussion. Please be respectful and prepared to have your ideas challenged. If you are easily offended, this event may not be for you.