As devolution is individualistic, is it right wing?

[Desperado †]

Seeing as collectivism, socialism, is left wing, and individualism, capitalism, is right wing, and devolution is individualism but on a larger scale, is devolution right wing (speaking economically now)?

[Каие]

It's neither Right wing nor Left wing. But constitutionally Devolution is left wing, as it is changing the constitution whereas the Right generally want to keep it the same.

[Desperado †]

But it is less collective than having a single centralised state, so doesn't that make it more individualistic?

[MaximiIian]

But it is less collective than having a single centralised state, so doesn't that make it more individualistic?

Yes, it's more individualistic, but that doesn't necessarily make it more rightist. Right and left are not defined on a individualist/collectivist scale. It's a conserve/change scale.

[cristophe el perno]

In Britain Devolution has been a left-wing trait if anything. The Scottish and Welsh devolved assembalies were set up by Labour, with the support of the Lib-Dems, and were at the time opposed by the Conservative party.
However, since then the Conservatives have largely dropped their opposition.

Left-Wing does not neccessarily mean a large centralised state. There's all sorts of left-wing movements and ideologies that are federalist, localist or otherwise against central power.
For example, in the UK, the Liberal-Democrats are currently seen as the msot left-wing of the three main parties, but they have always been strongly in favour of devolution and federalism. The same goes for a lot of groups considerably further left.

[Desperado †]

Yes, yes, I know that many parties that support devolution are also left economically (the Tories originally opposed, Labour was more supportive, Plaid Cymru are very left), but seeing as it promotes individualism rather than collectivism it really is a right wing (speaking economically of course, devolution that only deals with social aspects is neither left nor right wing). Naturally no parties are composed solely of left or right wing traits, even when speaking solely on an economic level.

[Father Jack]

Its quite a subjective question to make, which makes it hard to comprehensively answer. In the USA I think that it would be reasonable to say that unitary government (as opposed to federalism) is very much an aspect economically and politically associated with the left. If we compare devolution in the UK with federalism and powers that the individual states wield, it can be argued that individualism and therefore devolution can be construed as being a right wing trait. Traditionally the notion of 'States Rights' and increased federalism (as can be seen with the growth of 'Competetive Federalism' since Reagan) has been predominantly an issue taken up by the right wing in US politics, both politically and from an economic perspective. - as it gives individual states greater economic control.

In the UK devolution is perhaps neither left wing or right wing, not only politically but also economically. Particularly under Margaret Thatcher political unitarianism and economic free market capitalism were traditional conservative and right wing view points, hence strong conservative opposition to devolution. You must also remember that political individualism and economic individualism are not all exclusively linked with the 'right wing' and 'left wing' ideologies. It can perhaps be argued that the individualistic nature of economics in the devolved countries is right wing, although I would disagree with such a statement. Very few economies, including those of the devolved countries can be considered socialist or collectivised (although the economies of the devolved states are somewhat limited due to the ever present notion of parliamentary sovereignty and the ideals of the UK being a unitary democracy).

Instead of reading all of that I will conclude by saying that due to the subjective nature your question, devolution cannot be considered either a right wing or a left wing trait./rant

[Desperado †]

You must also remember that political individualism and economic individualism are not all exclusively linked with the 'right wing' and 'left wing' ideologies. It can perhaps be argued that the individualistic nature of economics in the devolved countries is right wing, although I would disagree with such a statement. Very few economies, including those of the devolved countries can be considered socialist or collectivised (although the economies of the devolved states are somewhat limited due to the ever present notion of parliamentary sovereignty and the ideals of the UK being a unitary democracy).

Instead of reading all of that I will conclude by saying that due to the subjective nature your question, devolution cannot be considered either a right wing or a left wing trait./rant

The problem I've caused was my foolish use of the word 'trait' (I meant is devolution a trait that actualy makes you more right wing, not that devolution is a trait carried by those who are economically right).

I'm neither saying that left (or colectivist)or right wing (or individualist) parties support devolution, or that there are right (or individualist) or left (or colectivist) wing economies whithin devolved countries. I'm saying that devolution is individualism (on a greater scale) and is hence right wing (when speaking solely economicaly, in the case of all these concepts). Unless individualism is not right wing, or devolution is not individualism, devolution is right wing.

I've edited the O.P now, I hope I make more sense.

[Father Jack]

Essentially devolution is not the same as individualism.

I would personally never link the idea of individualism with the idea of devolution. Individualism requires that a country/person (usually person) retains a level of autonomy to do as he or she pleases within a state providing that they do not infringe upon the liberties of others. This makes it hard for devolved countries to be considered an aspect of individualism as they do not share the same principles as individualism. Devolution is not concerned with this nature of individual autonomy which is a core principle of individualism. Rather, devolution is concerned with obtaining freedoms from a higher power - powers that have been 'devolved'. This does not make devolution individualistic as these powers can be withdrawn. Much like a government or a business can remove devolved powers from a department back to the centre of authority. Another central theme to individualism is the idea of self reliance, devolution does not share this central theme as devolution does not equal self reliance, especially considering that devolution by its very nature cannot be self reliant, as devolution requires a higher source of authority to work.

[Random Emperor]

Seeing as collectivism, socialism, is left wing, and individualism, capitalism, is right wing, and devolution is individualism but on a larger scale, is devolution right wing (speaking economically now)?

Since when? Not always

[Aldgarkalaughskel]

It's interesting, devolution is essentially right-wing in my country, since the socialists want to concentrate all governmental power as much as possible, including local governments. So it really depends on the country. However, in Britain it's left-wing, I agree.

I should also note, that devolution is only one aspect of decentralization, and doesn't necessarily the best solution in unitary states (like France for example).

[The Devil's Sergeant]

I think depends on the reason one supports it. If is driven by the beleif that local governments are more responsible to the people then I guess that could be right wing. If on the other hand it is justified as appeasing ethnic desire for some self government, then that would be left wing.

[IrishHitman]

Left wing in terms of change-continuality.
Right wing in that it is usually motivated by nationalism.

[Каие]

Nonsense Irish, nationalism is not Right wing. You Irish of all people should know that.

[Dr. Croccer]

Nonsense Irish, nationalism is not Right wing. You Irish of all people should know that.

Well, by that logic Collectivisation isn't left wing either. It's just, like Nationalism by the right, used the most by the left.

[Desperado †]

Well, by that logic Collectivisation isn't left wing either. It's just, like Nationalism by the right, used the most by the left.

No, because we're speaking economic right-left wing here.

You can have a capitalist society that's still very nationalistic - people can be unified by one state and one culture even if economically the market is competitive and individualistic.

Nationalism and collectivism are different things in this context, because as stated in the O.P we're talking solely economically.

[Phier]

The problem is we are using a line instead of a plane.

All X axis and no Y axis.

[Random Emperor]

Nonsense Irish, nationalism is not Right wing. You Irish of all people should know that.

It could be right

[IrishHitman]

Nonsense Irish, nationalism is not Right wing. You Irish of all people should know that.

You can be an economically left nationalist, but that doesn't mean that nationalism is any less right-wing.
That's what Sinn Fein are, due to the reconciliation of Irish nationalism with socialism by Connolly.

Internationalism is left wing, nationalism is right wing.

[MaximiIian]

Internationalism is left wing, nationalism is right wing.

Not really. At all.
Nationalism is an idea that can be applied to the entire spectrum of politics. It's not restricted to the right wing. Would you have called the French revolutionaries of 1789 rightists? Yet they were ferociously nationalist.