what is left and right in politics

In politics, the terms "left" and "right" refer to a system of classifying political positions, ideologies, and parties based on issues of social equality and social hierarchy. The terms originated in France during the French Revolution, where those who sat on the left of the chair of the parliamentary president supported the revolution and a secular republic, and opposed the monarchy of the old regime. Generally, the left is applied to people and groups that have liberal views, meaning they support progressive reforms and believe society is best served with an expanded role for the government. In contrast, the right is associated with conservative views, which emphasize individual rights and limited government intervention. However, it is important to note that a particular individual or group may take a left-wing stance on one matter and a right-wing stance on another, and some stances may overlap and be considered either left-wing or right-wing depending on the ideology.