What it means to be MOTN
MOTN stands for Market, Order, Traditional, National. You lean towards free enterprise, strong law and order, and respect for family, faith and heritage. You also put your own country first.
In its mainstream form this is a centre-right national conservative. You tend to value borders, shared culture and strong institutions. You likely think a stable nation is the base of both prosperity and freedom.
Views you probably hold
- Free enterprise creates wealth, with fair rules to keep it honest.
- Law and order and a strong justice system protect ordinary people.
- Family, faith and national heritage deserve respect.
- A country should control its borders and its own laws.
- Strong armed forces and national pride help keep a country secure.
What admirers see
- Admirers say it protects stability, security and a shared national identity.
- It pairs economic growth with respect for community and heritage.
- It gives voters a clear sense of who their government answers to.
What critics say
- Critics say stress on order and tradition can limit minorities and personal freedom.
- Opponents argue that putting the nation first can harm cooperation abroad.
- Critics say it can protect the existing order at the cost of reform.
In history
This shape includes conservatism, civic nationalism, Christian nationalism, Bonapartism, absolutism and anti-communism. It is the shape of many centre-right and conservative parties in democracies. It also covers some authoritarian regimes, though the outlook itself is much broader than those. Edmund Burke's respect for inherited institutions is a root of much of this tradition.