What it means to be a Grounded Centrist
CENT is the result when all four families, Economy, State, Society and World, sit close to the middle. It can mean you hold moderate views on almost everything. You may weigh each issue on its merits and avoid taking a fixed side.
It can also mean the opposite. You might hold strong views that cancel out inside a family. For example, you may want free markets on some economic questions and public ownership on others, and the average lands near zero.
Views you probably hold
- Most issues have good points on more than one side.
- Policies should be judged by results, not by who proposes them.
- Compromise is a sign of strength, not weakness.
- Markets and government each have a role to play.
- Change is best when it is steady and tested.
What admirers see
- Admirers say it is open-minded and willing to listen to all sides.
- It favours workable compromise over fighting.
- It is not tied to any one party line.
What critics say
- Critics say centrism can mean avoiding hard choices.
- Opponents argue that the middle moves with fashion and has no fixed principles.
- Critics say balance can protect the status quo when change is needed.
In history
Centrism is not one movement, but a tradition of moderation that appears in many countries. Liberal nationalism and centrist parties have often held the balance between left and right. Jacques Chirac, a French president associated with a middle path, is often named as an example. In most democracies, centrist voters decide close elections.