Where do the terms “left” and “right” come from to describe political leanings?
The terms “left” and “right” for particular political leanings come from the historical seating order in parliament. However, one should note that what is specifically meant by these terms has changed in all sorts of ways over the last two hundred years. The “physical” basis for there being a political left and right is the semi-circular seating order after the fashion of a Greek theatre, which is totally different from the British “Westminster type” of parliament. There, government and opposition parties have sat opposite each other since the 18th century, with the more desirable right-hand side, seen from the speaker’s seat, reserved for the government party of the day. The terms “right” and “left” did not enter the language of British politics to describe political leanings until the last century. In continental Europe, by contrast, the tradition of these terms goes back to the late 18th century, to the era of the French Revolution. Then, in the various parliamentary bodies of the r
