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12 Axes Test
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The 12 axes

The axes of the 12 Axes test, explained

The 12 Axes test scores twelve axes in four categories. Each axis has two opposing values, seven named bands and 24 statements in the bank. Here is what each one measures and the kind of statement that moves you along it.

Government

a

Structure

Where power should sit: with regions and cities, or with one national government.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Confederal
  2. 2Strongly federal
  3. 3Federal
  4. 4Balanced
  5. 5Unitary
  6. 6Centralized
  7. 7Fully centralized

Federal

States, provinces and cities write most of their own rules, and the centre stays small.

Statements that pull toward Federal

Mild
Local governments can understand their citizens better than the national government could.
Strong
There is no need for a national government.

Unitary

One national government sets the same law everywhere, and local bodies carry it out.

Statements that pull toward Unitary

Mild
A country cannot function without a national government.
Strong
There is no need for local or state governments.

b

Representation

Who decides: voters, or leaders who do not answer to them.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Direct democracy
  2. 2Strongly democratic
  3. 3Democratic
  4. 4Balanced
  5. 5Elitist
  6. 6Oligarchic
  7. 7Autocratic

Democratic

Authority comes from the vote, up to and including direct democracy on single issues.

Statements that pull toward Democratic

Mild
Democracy is more than a decision-making process.
Strong
Direct democracy is the best form of government.

Autocratic

Capable leadership matters more than popular opinion, which is seen as slow or easily swayed.

Statements that pull toward Autocratic

Mild
Democracy is inefficient and slow.
Strong
Elections are a waste of resources.

e

Power

What the state is for: keeping order, or staying out of the way.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Totalitarian
  2. 2Authoritarian
  3. 3Order-first
  4. 4Balanced
  5. 5Liberal
  6. 6Libertarian
  7. 7Anarchist

Security

Surveillance, policing and limits on liberty are acceptable prices for safety.

Statements that pull toward Security

Mild
The government should have access to the emails of suspected terrorists.
Strong
Those who disagree with the government should be removed from the country.

Freedom

Privacy and personal choice come first, even when that makes order harder to keep.

Statements that pull toward Freedom

Mild
Marijuana should be legal.
Strong
The very existence of the state is a threat to our liberty.

Diplomacy

c

Intervention

How a country should relate to the rest of the world.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1World federalist
  2. 2Internationalist
  3. 3Cooperative
  4. 4Balanced
  5. 5Sovereigntist
  6. 6Nationalist
  7. 7Ultranationalist

Internationalist

Shared institutions, alliances and, at the far end, a single world government.

Statements that pull toward Internationalist

Mild
International trade is generally beneficial.
Strong
A united world government would be beneficial to mankind.

Nationalist

Sovereignty first, with suspicion of alliances and of international law.

Statements that pull toward Nationalist

Mild
It is important to maintain our national sovereignty.
Strong
My nation is better than all other nations.

d

Military

The place of armed force in policy.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Expansionist
  2. 2Militarist
  3. 3Defence-minded
  4. 4Balanced
  5. 5Restrained
  6. 6Pacifist
  7. 7Absolute pacifist

Militarist

A strong military is a tool worth using, and service earns a special standing.

Statements that pull toward Militarist

Mild
A government must maintain a strong military to defend itself.
Strong
War is needed to make an economy thrive.

Pacifist

Diplomacy before force every time, and far less spent on arms.

Statements that pull toward Pacifist

Mild
It is more important to retain peaceful relations than to further our strength.
Strong
War is never justified.

i

Immigration

What a country should ask of the people who move to it.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Nativist
  2. 2Monoculturalist
  3. 3Assimilationist
  4. 4Balanced
  5. 5Pluralist
  6. 6Multiculturalist
  7. 7Open borders

Assimilationist

Newcomers adopt the language and customs of the host country, and borders stay tight.

Statements that pull toward Assimilationist

Mild
Illegal immigrants should be deported in most or all cases.
Strong
Foreigners should never enter the country.

Multiculturalist

Many cultures live side by side, and borders open wider.

Statements that pull toward Multiculturalist

Mild
We should be taking in more refugees.
Strong
Governments should be as concerned about foreign citizens as they are about those within their borders.

Economy

f

Economy

Who should own wealth and the means of making it.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Communist
  2. 2Socialist
  3. 3Social democratic
  4. 4Mixed economy
  5. 5Market liberal
  6. 6Capitalist
  7. 7Pure capitalist

Collectivize

Shared or public ownership, and a narrower gap between rich and poor.

Statements that pull toward Collectivize

Mild
The wealthy have far more than they need.
Strong
Communism, if implemented correctly, would be a good form of economics.

Privatize

Private property, private enterprise and the inequality that comes with them.

Statements that pull toward Privatize

Mild
People should have the right to leave their wealth to their descendants.
Strong
The government should not regulate the economy at all.

j

Control

Who steers the economy: the state, or prices.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Command economy
  2. 2Interventionist
  3. 3Regulated
  4. 4Balanced
  5. 5Market-leaning
  6. 6Free market
  7. 7Laissez-faire

Planned

Regulation, public direction of investment and higher taxes at the top.

Statements that pull toward Planned

Mild
Without economic regulation, monopolies will dominate the entire market.
Strong
I prefer a planned economy over a free and open economy.

Laissez-faire

Light regulation, low taxes and trust in competition.

Statements that pull toward Laissez-faire

Mild
Excessive government intervention is a threat to the economy.
Strong
Government should not regulate the economy at all.

k

Trade

How open an economy should be to the outside.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Autarkic
  2. 2Protectionist
  3. 3Trade-cautious
  4. 4Balanced
  5. 5Free trader
  6. 6Globalist
  7. 7Borderless market

Protectionist

Tariffs, local production and economic self-reliance.

Statements that pull toward Protectionist

Mild
The government should prioritize my country over all others.
Strong
All products should be made in my country.

Globalist

Free trade and deep economic ties across borders.

Statements that pull toward Globalist

Mild
The world must cooperate together in terms of economics.
Strong
We must actively promote foreign products.

Society

g

Religion

The role of faith in public life.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Antitheist
  2. 2Atheist
  3. 3Secular
  4. 4Balanced
  5. 5Spiritual
  6. 6Religious
  7. 7Theocratic

Irreligious

No higher power, and no religion in law or government.

Statements that pull toward Irreligious

Mild
Religion in government should be eliminated.
Strong
Religion should be banned.

Religious

Faith is true and good for society, and may guide public policy.

Statements that pull toward Religious

Mild
I believe there is something after death.
Strong
Theocracy is a good system of government.

h

Culture

How fast social norms should change.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Revolutionary
  2. 2Strongly progressive
  3. 3Progressive
  4. 4Moderate
  5. 5Conservative
  6. 6Traditionalist
  7. 7Reactionary

Progressive

Norms should be reformed, and long-excluded groups brought in.

Statements that pull toward Progressive

Mild
I support the BLM movement.
Strong
We should pay reparations to the descendants of slaves.

Traditional

Inherited customs, family values and morals deserve protection.

Statements that pull toward Traditional

Mild
To chase progress at all costs is dangerous.
Strong
The Enlightenment should never have happened.

l

Technology

How far and how fast technology should go.

The seven bands

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  1. 1Transhumanist
  2. 2Accelerationist
  3. 3Tech optimist
  4. 4Balanced
  5. 5Tech-cautious
  6. 6Bioconservative
  7. 7Primitivist

Acceleration

AI, automation and genetic engineering should move ahead, even at some risk.

Statements that pull toward Acceleration

Mild
The quality of life is generally going up decade by decade.
Strong
If AI could rule more effectively than humans, then AI should rule.

Bioconservative

Slow down, regulate, and keep human nature and the environment as they are.

Statements that pull toward Bioconservative

Mild
Technology must be slowed down to protect the environment.
Strong
Traditional medicines are often more effective than modern medicines.

Above 90, above 75, above 60, 40 to 60, 25 and up, 10 and up, below 10. Percentages are of the first value.

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