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

About this episode

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! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠⁠What is the European Political Community, the continent’s intergovernmental organization?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Who are the Moonies, the church with ties to Japanese politicians?⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Which swing states could decide the US election result?⁠⁠ A podcast written and realised by Amber Minogue. First Broadcast: 20/5/2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices