Left and Right as a Narrative of the Global

Alain Noël and Jean‐Philippe Thérien

Global Policy, 2025, vol. 16, issue 4, 504-513

Abstract: The left–right narrative is the most universal macro‐story to make sense of global politics. Although the political opposition between the left and the right originated in the West, it has now spread to all continents. Nation‐states remain the primary locus of the politics of left and right, but the distinction has become a global divide that permeates foreign policies, transnational relations, and global governance debates. Building on the concept of the “narrative of the global,” this article combines insights from political sociology, political psychology, public opinion research, comparative politics, and international relations to unpack the global meaning of the left–right division. It shows how, across the world, the language of left and right helps social actors communicate about politics. Our contribution sheds new light on competing discourses of global policy and governance, and will hopefully stimulate a much‐needed conversation between scholars and practitioners about the political foundations of global debates.

Date: 2025
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