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Trade axis

Protectionist vs Globalist

Should a country shield its economy from the world, or open it up?

Trade cuts across the usual left and right: some on both sides want tariffs to protect workers, and others on both sides want open markets. This axis keeps trade separate from diplomacy, so you can be a free-trader who still dislikes international institutions, or the other way round.

Protectionist

Tariffs, subsidies and "buy local" policies protect home industries and jobs from foreign competition.

Statements that score Protectionist

  • “All products should be made in my country.”
  • “Export subsidies should be used for protecting local industries.”
  • “The government should prioritize my country over all others.”

Globalist

Open trade makes everyone richer. Tariffs should come down and the free market should extend across borders.

Statements that score Globalist

  • “We must actively promote foreign products.”
  • “Tariffs should be lowered.”
  • “The world must cooperate together in terms of economics.”

In practice

Where it shows up

It shows up in arguments over tariffs and trade wars, subsidies for local farmers and factories, free-trade agreements, buying national products, and how much a country should depend on imports of food, energy or chips.

A common misunderstanding

Protectionism is not the property of one side. Unions on the left and national conservatives on the right both defend tariffs, while free-market liberals and many progressives favour open trade. That is why trade is scored separately from economy and diplomacy.

Reading your score

A score near the middle usually means open trade with exceptions for strategic industries. Above 75% Protectionist you want a country that makes what it needs; below 25% you see tariffs mostly as a tax on consumers.

Historical figures at each end

Where the thinkers and leaders in our figure set stand on this axis.

Result labels

Your score is the percentage toward Protectionist. The label shown on your result depends on which band it falls in.

  1. 91-100%Isolationist
  2. 76-90%Protectionist
  3. 61-75%Limited Trade
  4. 40-60%Moderate
  5. 25-39%Free Trade
  6. 10-24%Globalist
  7. 0-9%Global Economy

Where do you land on trade?

Take the test to see your score on this axis and the other eleven.

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