Buddhist Socialism
A current that grounds socialism in Buddhist ethics, seeing compassion and the end of attachment as the basis of equality, common property and the rejection of caste, from Ambedkar and the Dalai Lama to Ne Win's Burmese socialism.
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In one sentence
I want a society of compassion without castes, with common land and resources and a state that cares for all without attachment to profit.
Political axes
Profile across the 12 axes
- Leaning · Unitary
Structure
- Strong · Democracy
Representation
- Balanced
Power
- Leaning · Multiculturalism
Immigration
- Strong · Pacifist
Diplomacy
- Strong · Non-interventionist
Intervention
- Strong · Public
Economy
- Strong · Planning
Control
- Strong · Protectionism
Trade
- Balanced
Religion
- Leaning · Progressive
Morality
- Strong · Biology
Technology
What sets this ideology apart
Technology
Leans further toward biology than 86% of the 248 ideologies in the catalog.
Ideology median 58This ideology 27
Of all the axes, Technology is where it stands furthest from the rest.
Power
On Power, it sits close to the catalog median.
Ideology median 55This ideology 50
Here it shares common ground with most ideologies.
Personalities
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1956 to 1959, he converted to Buddhism, founded the Freedom Party, nationalized ports and buses, made Sinhala the official language, pursued non-alignment and was assassinated by a Buddhist monk.
Closest, by dimension
PoliticallyEvo MoralesStatesman97%
SociallyKarl PolanyiEconomist and economic historian97%
EconomicallyLuís Carlos PrestesCommunist leader100%
Other compatible profiles
PoliticsLula da SilvaStatesman96%
ActivismBernie SandersPolitician96%
PoliticsSalvador AllendeStatesman95%
PoliticsKeir HardiePolitician95%
ActivismMartin Luther King Jr.Pastor and civil rights leader94%
PhilosophySlavoj ŽižekPhilosopher94%
PoliticsJoão GoulartStatesman93%
EconomicsCelso FurtadoEconomist93%
The most distant
Countries
Reference country
Sri Lanka
Buddhist-national republicAn island presidential republic in South Asia, Sri Lanka gives constitutional primacy to Buddhism, won the war against Tamil separatists in 2009, faced the 2022 debt crisis, and elected a left-wing coalition in 2024.
Other close countries
Bolivia
Plurinational-popular republicAn Andean presidential republic, Bolivia is marked by indigenous leadership, the defense of natural resources, and a plurinational state project that unites economic nationalism and broad popular participation.
Also close, by dimension
PoliticallyArgentinaFederal national-popular republic90%
SociallyZapatista Chiapas (Mexico)Indigenous-communal autonomy94%
EconomicallyAlgeriaMilitary-backed presidential republic98%
The most distant
Allende's Chile
1970–1973Under Allende's Popular Unity, Chile attempted democratic socialism through copper and bank nationalization, agrarian reform, and economic planning until the 1973 military coup.
Also close, by dimension
PoliticallySankara's Burkina Faso1983–198788%
SociallyCárdenas's Mexico1934–194086%
EconomicallyGaddafi's Libya1969–201197%
The most distant
Ideological proximity
Close ideologies
Closest within Left
- Left
Christian Social Democracy
Current that turns the Gospel into reforms within democracy, defending a welfare state, labor rights, unions and redistribution without breaking with the market or with liberal institutions.
- Left
Christian Progressivism
Current that unites Christian faith with the defense of social justice, rights, and reforms, seeing in the Gospel a call to solidarity, equality, and care for the poor and marginalized of society and the world.
- Left
Christian Labourism
Branch that combines the defense of workers and social justice with Christian values, promoting labor rights, solidarity, and social protection within democracy, inspired by the social doctrine of the Church.
Closest in other spectrums
- Center
Communitarianism
Current that values community bonds, traditions, and the common good above individualism, holding that justice and identity arise from life in community and the responsibilities people share.
- Center
Political Buddhism
Applies the Dharma to politics: Ashoka's righteous king, Schumacher's Buddhist economics, Buddhadasa's Dhammic socialism and Bhutan's Gross National Happiness. It prioritizes nonviolence, moderate consumption, community and harmony with nature.
- Center
Eco-Nationalism
Current that links environmental protection to national sovereignty, prioritizing the protection of the country's own natural resources and land and sustainable development within national borders.
The most distant ideology
NeoreactionFar-Right29%