centrists
Neither left nor right
Centrists occupy the political middle ground, rejecting what they see as extremes on both left and right.
The term can be self-applied with pride or used dismissively by critics who view centrism as fence-sitting or lack of conviction: Centrists in Congress held the deciding votes.
In polarized times, centrist positions may be characterized as either reasonable compromise or spineless moderation, depending on who's talking.
Cooperation between political rivals
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- swing votersUncommitted potential voters
- independentsUnaffiliated persons or entities
- moderatesReduces intensity or extremity
pragmatists · compromise · consensus · crossbench · triangulation · purple state · dealmakers · bridge-builders
Uncontroversially conventional stance
- pragmaticFocused on workable solutions
- reasonableShowing sound judgment
- temperateMild, avoiding extremes
- measuredCarefully considered, unhurried
judicious · balanced · gradualist · cautious · restrained · level-headed · sensible · mainstream
Creating widespread agreement
- bridge-buildingEstablishing connections between estranged parties
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
coalition-building · unity · cooperation · dialogue · common ground · dealmaking · power-sharing · grand bargain
bipartisanship
Cooperation between political rivals
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- swing votersUncommitted potential voters
- independentsUnaffiliated persons or entities
moderates · pragmatists · compromise · consensus · crossbench · triangulation · purple state · dealmakers · bridge-builders · reformists
middle-of-the-road
Uncontroversially conventional stance
- pragmaticFocused on workable solutions
- reasonableShowing sound judgment
- temperateMild, avoiding extremes
measured · judicious · balanced · gradualist · cautious · restrained · level-headed · sensible · mainstream · conventional
consensus-building
Creating widespread agreement
- bridge-buildingEstablishing connections between estranged parties
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
conciliation · coalition-building · unity · cooperation · dialogue · common ground · dealmaking · power-sharing · grand bargain · reconciliation
- Political Factionsconservatives, Republicans, right wing, far right, hard right
- German PoliticsBundesrat, CSU, Nazi Party, Greens, federal republic
- moderatesmoderates, independents, middle-of-the-road, compromisers
- mediatorsmediator, mediators, arbitrator, arbitrators, negotiator
- political ideologiesconservatism, conservative, anarchism, liberalism, liberal
- EU ElectionsEuropean Parliament, MEP, MEPs, ballot, ballots
centristsextremists
Those with radical positions
radicals · fanatics · zealots · hardliners · far-right
centristsleftists
Political progressives collectively
rightists · left-wingers · right-wingers · progressives · conservatives
centristsrevolutionaries
Those seeking systemic overthrow
firebrands · provocateurs · agitators · insurgents · rabble-rousers