Politics: left and right

[chrisrob]

When and where did the use of left for socialism and right for capitalism originate? Is it to do with which side of the house they sit/sat? In our parliament?

[paddywak]

If I remember rightly it came from the French tribunal after the revolution, when members of the various fractions sat together and it so happened that the most extreme groups gathered at the left hand side of the chamber. This has gradually evolved into the system we have now were the ex left wing were once the communist extremist and the right wing became the conservatives

[paddywak]

forgot to add that nowadays its considered to be more a matter of beliefs then actual seating and its not just capitalism thats considered right wing, fasict, nationalistic parties are right wing its all a matter of degree as to how far left or right they are seen to be. When I did a history course a few years ago we were told to visualise the system not as as straight left/right line but more as a horse shoe as quite often the more extreme the left and right became the closer their aims and the methods they used to gain them became

[Quizmonster]

The words 'left' and 'right' in politics come from the French Parliament, known as the Estates General - as Paddywak suggests above but before the Revolution, as I understand it.
There, the nobility sat on the King's right-hand side and the rest on his left. The nobles, of course, wanted things to go on just as they always had...ie they were 'conservative'. The others wanted change...more fairness in wealth, ownership etc.
Nowadays, the same idea applies to modern governments. In the UK, the Conservative Party is right-wing and the New Labour Party is left-wing; in the USA, the Republicans are right-wing and the Democrats are left-wing.
Perhaps you could run a Google search using "estates general" for further information.

[chrisrob]

Thanks guys.