Welcome! It’s timely to stress that The Political Compass has been on the internet since 2001. The uniqueness of our take on politics is reflected in the gratifyingly enthusiastic reviews we’ve enjoyed in the national media of many countries from our earliest years — as well as from many teachers and academics who continue to use our work.
Read more about our work here.
Robert Dunham, Executive Director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington DC, discusses with Wayne Brittenden the ethical and legal situation of capital punishment globally — but particularly in the US, which is the only western democracy that — at least in 29 states — can still execute its citizens.
A little-known history that needs to be told, and the US National Public Radio does a fine job.
As the Sufi poet philosopher Omar Khayyam put it: When I want to understand what is happening today or try to decide what will happen tomorrow, I look back.
Your chance to know Thomas Paine, the British born founding father of the American Revolution — and certainly the most colourful and passionate one.
He also had an important role in the French Revolution and was an unblinking critic of tyranny, superstition, religious oppression, special privilege and exploitation. He was also the 18th century’s most widely read writer.
Our growing list of relatively timeless interviews
Some of our most celebrated heroes have had dark sides that history’s air-brushed out in order to exaggerate their virtues. Wayne Brittenden discusses heroes and our apparent need for them with Dr Binoy Kampmark of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.
All you need to know about the making and meaning of national songs! Erik Levi, Professor of Music at Royal Holloway, University of London, talks about the musical devices that stir emotions in patriotic songs and takes a critical look at some interesting examples.
Vladimir Lenin’s view on THE UKRAINE was vastly different from Vladimir Putin’s!
Four years ago, I traveled around America, visiting historical archives. I was looking for documents that might reveal the hidden history of climate change — and in particular, when the major coal, oil and gas companies became aware of the problem, and what they knew about it …
