The History of All Politics — Left, Right, and Everything Else

Introduction: A World in Conflict

Across the world today, politics feels like a battlefield. Protests erupt in Europe over immigration policy; demonstrations in North America follow the deaths of polarizing public figures; populist leaders challenge established elites while progressive activists demand sweeping change. The left and the right seem locked in perpetual combat, each claiming to defend democracy from the other.

Yet this arrangement—politics divided neatly into two opposing camps—is neither timeless nor inevitable. In the 1960s, it was the left that embodied rebellion, opposing the Vietnam War, pushing civil rights, and celebrating peace and love. Today, many anti-establishment movements fly under a right-wing banner. How did this shift happen? To answer, we must go back—far back—to the roots of political life itself.

Rome and the Birth of Political Systems

While Athens is often credited with inventing democracy, Rome built the longest-lasting system of republican governance in antiquity. Beginning with elected magistrates and the Senate, Rome experimented with forms of representation, power-sharing, and checks on authority. But the Republic gave way to the Empire, where emperors held absolute power.

Some emperors ruled with wisdom and reform—Julius Caesar restructured the calendar and expanded citizenship, though he rose by military might and was assassinated amid fears of tyranny. Others embodied excess: Nero (ruled 54–68 AD), infamous for cruelty, public extravagance, and suspected murders, became a cautionary tale of unchecked authority.

By the 5th century AD, Rome collapsed under internal decline, economic strain, and external invasions. Christianity had reshaped its culture, but the fall of the empire was driven by multiple factors. When the Western Empire fell in 476 AD, Europe entered the Middle Ages. Yet Rome left enduring legacies—law, citizenship, and the idea that politics was about more than one man’s whim.

The Medieval Order: Kings, Faith, and Feudal Power

The collapse of Rome did not mean the collapse of politics, but politics became localized and hierarchical. Kings and nobles ruled by decree; peasants had little voice. The Catholic Church wielded immense influence, often more powerful than monarchs. Politics in this era was not about competing ideologies, but about land, loyalty, and divine right.

Still, unrest brewed. Peasants revolted against inequality. Towns and trade grew, planting seeds of a more modern civic politics. The Magna Carta of 1215 marked a turning point: for the first time, kings were forced to accept limits on their power, foreshadowing constitutional government.

The French Revolution and the Birth of “Left” and “Right”

The true origin of “left” and “right” politics comes from the French Revolution (1789–1799). In the National Assembly, supporters of the king and tradition sat on the right; revolutionaries demanding change sat on the left. What began as a debate over taxes and representation became a struggle over the very nature of sovereignty.

The Revolution overthrew the monarchy, proclaimed universal rights, executed kings and nobles, and experimented with republic, terror, and empire. Out of its chaos emerged the modern vocabulary of politics: left for progress, equality, and radical change; right for order, hierarchy, and continuity.

The United States, too, built a republic at this time—its Constitution (1787) is still hailed as one of the most durable frameworks of governance. Together, France and America established the model of representative politics that dominates today. (See our related analysis: The U.S. Constitution: Living Document or Outdated Framework?)

The 19th and 20th Centuries: Ideologies Take Shape

As industrial society took hold, politics fractured into new ideologies:

• Conservatism (right): protecting tradition, monarchy, church, and property.
• Liberalism (center-right in its early form): advocating constitutionalism, free markets, and individual rights.
• Socialism and Communism (left): emerging in the 19th century, calling for workers’ rights, public ownership, and equality.

The Revolutions of 1848 showed how ordinary people across Europe demanded democracy, labor rights, and national self-determination. These uprisings foreshadowed the larger clashes of the 20th century.

The 20th century brought extremes. Fascism and Nazism on the far right clashed with Communism on the far left, plunging the world into war and Cold War. The ideological spectrum hardened: left and right became shorthand for entire worldviews. (Also see: War of Ukraine and Russia — Bad Call)

By the 1960s, the left had become synonymous with social change—civil rights, anti-war, feminism, and environmentalism. The right often represented authority, law, and established order.

Politics Today: The Reversal of Roles?

Fast forward to today. Many of the roles seem inverted. Right-wing populist movements claim to speak for the marginalized against corrupt elites—positions once associated with the left. Meanwhile, progressive causes dominate universities, NGOs, and mainstream media, looking more like the establishment than the opposition.

Brexit blurred the old categories: conservative voters embraced a populist revolt, while Labour struggled to define its stance. In France, President Emmanuel Macron even declared himself “neither left nor right,” a claim that underscores how slippery the labels have become.

Immigration, culture, technology, and globalization fuel polarization. Protest has no fixed ideology: the same act—marching in the streets—may today be performed by conservative populists or progressive activists. (See also: Our Protest Coverage and the BBC World section for current examples.)

Yet both sides are caught in the same cycle: defining themselves by opposition, framing politics as a zero-sum game, and leaving little space for compromise.

Why Politics Matters

Politics is not simply a spectacle of left vs. right—it decides the rules that shape daily life. From healthcare and education to war and peace, the way societies govern themselves determines freedom, justice, and prosperity. The Roman Empire’s fall shows what happens when systems decay. The French Revolution shows how violently societies can reinvent themselves.

Politics is the art of distributing power, balancing freedom with responsibility, and aligning governments with the needs of their people.

A Third Narrative

So where does this leave us?

History suggests that politics is never fixed: yesterday’s rebels become today’s establishment; yesterday’s right becomes today’s left. If there is a lesson, it is that politics cannot be reduced to permanent camps.

The third narrative—the one we must write today—may be this: politics should serve people, not parties. It should be measured not by which side wins, but by how well society adapts to challenges without losing dignity, rights, and trust.

If Rome shows us the danger of unchecked power, and the French Revolution shows us the danger of unchecked rage, perhaps our age should aim for a politics of balance: strong enough to govern, humble enough to listen.

⚖️ Two sides. One story. You make the third.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did “left” and “right” politics begin?
The terms originated during the French Revolution (1789–1799). Members of the National Assembly who supported monarchy and tradition sat on the right, while revolutionaries who demanded change sat on the left.

What did the political left represent in the 1960s?
The left often symbolized rebellion and social change. It was associated with protests against the Vietnam War, civil rights movements, feminism, and calls for peace and equality.

Why does the right now seem more rebellious?
In recent years, right-wing populist movements have adopted anti-establishment rhetoric, positioning themselves as challengers to political elites and mainstream institutions. This contrasts with earlier decades, when such positions were more closely tied to the political left.

What were Rome’s contributions to politics?
Rome pioneered republican institutions such as the Senate, magistrates, and forms of citizenship. Though the Republic eventually gave way to imperial rule, Roman law and political organization influenced later democracies.

Why does politics matter today?
Politics shapes everyday life—from healthcare and education to rights, justice, and international relations. Historical lessons from Rome and the French Revolution show the dangers of unchecked power and the potential of representative systems to adapt to change.