Democratic Party (New Deal era, 1932–1948)
United States
Basis for the estimate: New Deal coalition: Social Security, Wagner Act, public works, very high top tax rates; included a segregationist Southern wing.
Political placement
| Map dimension | Score (0–100) | Position | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Collective / planned ↔ Market | 33 | toward collective / planned | |
| Social Progressive ↔ Traditional | 61 | near the center | |
| Authority Libertarian ↔ Authoritarian | 44 | near the center | |
| National identity Cosmopolitan ↔ Nationalist | 60 | near the center | |
| Foreign policy Non-intervention ↔ Intervention | 69 | toward intervention |
All nine underlying dimensions
| Dimension | Score | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Economic ownership Collective ownership ↔ Private ownership | 42 | near the center |
| Civil liberties Civil liberty ↔ State restrictions | 54 | near the center |
| National identity Cosmopolitan ↔ Nationalist | 60 | near the center |
| Social and cultural values Progressive ↔ Traditionalist | 65 | near the center |
| Political governance Democratic ↔ Autocratic | 35 | toward democratic |
| Equality and hierarchy Egalitarian ↔ Hierarchical | 41 | near the center |
| Economic management Free market ↔ State planning | 80 | toward state planning |
| Military intervention Non-intervention ↔ Intervention | 69 | toward intervention |
| Religion and government Secular state ↔ Religious authority | 52 | near the center |
Party scores are estimated from platforms and records; individual members can differ. How scores are made.
Key positions (estimated)
| Statement | Position | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Taxes on the highest incomes should be raised to fund public services. | Strongly agrees | from their record |
| Opposition parties should be free to compete in elections. | Strongly agrees | estimated |
| A national religious authority should have the power to veto legislation. | Strongly disagrees | estimated |
| The government should direct investment into strategically important industries. | Strongly agrees | from their record |
| Foreign wars should be avoided unless national territory is directly threatened. | Strongly disagrees | estimated |
| The means of production should ultimately be owned collectively. | Disagrees | estimated |
| People should be free to criticize the government without fear of legal punishment. | Agrees | estimated |
| National borders should become less important over time. | Strongly disagrees | estimated |
| Traditional values should guide what society considers right and wrong. | Agrees | estimated |
| A strong leader who gets things done matters more than following proper procedures. | Disagrees | estimated |
Closest ideologies
Centrism85% similar positionDevelopmentalism82% similar positionPaternalistic Conservatism82% similar positionChristian Democracy81% similar positionOne-Nation Conservatism81% similar position
Most similar parties
Liberal Democratic Party84% similarSweden Democrats83% similarIndian National Congress83% similarTisza83% similarCDU/CSU82% similar
Sources
- Wikipedia: New Deal coalition (Wikipedia search)
- American Presidency Project: party platforms
- Manifesto Project (coded election platforms)
Last reviewed October 11, 2026.