Political syncretism is also referred to ascatch-all politics, and syncretism is characterized by vague positioning on the political spectrum. Syncretic parties exhibit very high levels of ideological adaptability and flexibility, constantly switching positions and modifying their stances in order to broaden their electorate, without a consolidated commitment to concrete ideologies and political tradition.[5] Political scientist Gilda Sensales argues that political syncretism is relatively rare, and should only be applied to parties and movements that lack programmatic content and which intentionally create ideological ambiguity to attract support.[6]
TheFalange ofSpain, while allied with the nationalist right side during theSpanish Civil War and being widely considered to befar right,[7] presented itself definitively as syncretic.[8][page needed]Falangism has attacked both the left and the right as its "enemies", declaring itself to be neither left nor right, but aThird Position.[9]
In the United States,Third Way adherents embracefiscal conservatism to a greater extent than traditionalsocial liberals and advocate some replacement ofwelfare withworkfare, and sometimes have a stronger preference formarket solutions to traditional problems (as inpollution markets), while rejecting purelaissez-faire economics and otherright-libertarian positions. This style of governing was firmly adopted and partly redefined during theadministration ofPresidentBill Clinton.[12] Political scientistStephen Skowronek introduced the term "Third Way" into the interpretation of American presidential politics.[13][14][15] Such presidents undermine the opposition by borrowing policies from it in an effort to seize the middle and with it to achieve political dominance. This technique is known astriangulation and was used by Bill Clinton and otherNew Democrats who sought to move beyond the party'sNew Dealliberalism reputation in response to the political realignment of the 1980s. Through this strategy, Clinton adopted themes associated with theRepublican Party, such as fiscal conservatism,welfare reform,deregulation andlaw and order policies. Famously, he declared in the1996 State of the Union Address that "the era of big government is over".[16]
^Griffin, Roger (1995).Fascism (paperback). Oxford readers (second printing ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 8, 307.ISBN978-0192892492.
^Kallis, Aristotle A. (2002).The Fascism Reader. Routledge. p. 71.ISBN978-0415243599.
^Blamires, Cyprian (2006).World Fascism: A Historical Encyclopedia (hardcover) (5 ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. pp. 14, 561.ISBN978-1576079409.
^Bastow, Steve; Martin, James (2003).Third Way Discourse. Edinburgh University Press. p. 2.ISBN978-0748615612.However, what is often missed in many of these discussions is an awareness of the variety of ideologies of the third way that span the twentieth century and traverse the spectrum from left to right.
^Rodney P. Carlisle (general editor).The Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right, Volume 2: The Right. Thousand Oaks, California, USA; London, England, UK; New Delhi, India: Sage Publications, 2005. Pp. 633.
^Fernandez, Paloma Aguilar (August 2002).Memory in Amnesia: The Role of the Spanish Civil War in the Transition to Democracy (hardcover). Oxford; New York: Berghahn Books.ISBN978-1571817570.
^Griffin, Roger (1995).Fascism (paperback). Oxford readers (second printing ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 189.ISBN978-0192892492.
^Liow, Joseph Chinyong (2022). "Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) (Philippines)".Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Southeast Asia. pp. 359–390.doi:10.4324/9781003121565.ISBN978-1-003-12156-5.
^Trencsényi, Balázs; Kopeček, Michal; Gabrijelčič, Luka Lisjak; Falina, Maria; Baár, Monika; Janowski, Maciej (2018).A History of Modern Political Thought in East Central Europe. Volume 2 Part 2: Negotiating Modernity in the "Short Twentieth Century" and Beyond 1968–2018 / Balázs Trencsényi, Michal Kopeček, Luka Lisjak Gabrijelčič, Maria Falina, Mónika Baár, and Maciej Janowski (First ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 251.ISBN9780198829607.
^Solomon, Christopher (2022).In Search of Greater Syria: The History and Politics of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. I. B. Tauris. p. 43.ISBN978-1-8386-0642-8.During the Lebanese Civil War, the SSNP transitioned over to the left. It adopted a heightened anti-imperialist character and aligned itself with the leftwing nationalist Baath Party. In addition, the party looks to create a secular environment that empowers women and the desires to end sectarianism. However, it is spectral-syncretic politics that could perhaps describe the party's outlook today. The SSNP does not tend to identify with either the right or the left. Nationalism and self-determination are still key elements, along with a sense of community and shared responsibilities.
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