The Diplomatic Axis (Globalist ↔ Nationalist)

Measures where you place the balance between international cooperation and putting your own country first.

What this axis measures

The diplomatic axis is about problems that do not stop at the border. One side observes that climate, pandemics, and financial instability cannot be solved by any country acting alone, so joining common rules and institutions ends up serving the national interest. The other side objects that the bodies making those decisions never face an election, and argues that sovereignty and the interests of a country's own citizens have to come first in the ranking.

Questions this axis asks

Whether parts of sovereignty may be delegated to international bodies and multilateral treaties
Whether to expand free trade or protect domestic industry and jobs
Whether immigration and refugee intake is an international duty or a domestic capacity question
What standards should govern military intervention and foreign aid

The two poles

Globalist

Holds that a growing share of problems cannot be solved alone, so taking part in international cooperation ultimately serves the national interest.

Globalist

Nationalist

Holds that international bodies never face voters, so sovereignty and citizens' interests must come first in the ranking.

Nationalist

Reading your score

This axis is not a measure of how patriotic someone is. Both poles want their country to do well and disagree about the method. It is also the axis where issue-by-issue variation is widest — being open on trade while being cautious on immigration is a common combination that does not resolve neatly to one side.

Curious where you land?

Take the 16-question version (about five minutes) or the 40-question detailed version to see your position on all four axes. Nothing is stored — answers are calculated in your browser and never leave it.

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This page neither endorses nor opposes any position. Each position is described the way its own supporters would describe it, and criticisms are given equal weight across all of them. Political disagreement is often less about who is right than about what each side weighs most heavily.