Centrism

/ˈsɛntrɪzəm/ noun

Definition

A political philosophy or ideology advocating moderate policies between extremes; the principle of balancing or centralizing power toward the middle.

Etymology

From centre (center) plus -ism suffix. Developed in 19th-century political discourse to describe centrist political movements that rejected both far-left and far-right positions.

Kelly Says

Centrism is the only major political ideology that's often criticized for not having a clear positive identity—centrists are defined by what they're not (not radical) rather than what they are, which is why it's politically paradoxical.

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