This is admittedly playing with ideas, so don’t judge it by academic standards. Based on the U.S. political compass, the four quadrants represent (from largest to smallest party size) Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, and Green parties. The quadrants below match Jungian archetypes to some of the concerns or stereotypes of the quadrants. The intent is not to promote stereotypes, but to recognize the values and important roles that each quadrant emphasizes. Each role has a light and a dark side, as noted in much writing about the archetypes. Here the light side is described.
One finance coach uses the Jungian archetypes as a main discussion point to explore clients’ beliefs about money. She uses an analogy of a car trip where all of ones conscious and subconscious “parts” or motivations are on a ride together. For business decisions, you want the warrior in the driver’s seat, the magician beside the driver for some navigation help, and others in the back seat making suggestions or providing amusement. As with the adage “a fool and his money are soon parted,” in business you do not want the fool in the driver’s seat. You want that jester’s irrepressible humor and non-conformity in front when you’re entertaining friends. Comedians may be our foremost truth tellers, but they would likely be the first to admit to not being the best fit in the whitehouse or C-suite.
The Jungian archetypes were around long before Jung, but as a student and contemporary of Freud, he brought them into discussion during the early study of what we consider modern Western psychology. These archetypes have ancient origins. These characters were codified in the form of playing cards (jack, king, queen) and passed down in tarot cards.
In cartomancy, the meaning of the upright card for jack of clubs is courageous, energetic free spirit, charming man, skillful, brave. The meaning of the reversed card is arrogant, reckless, domineering, persuasive. Jack of hearts symbolizes creativity, romance, charm, acting on feelings, courting, as well as jealous, moody, overactive imagination, inaction. One political compass meme post (which I would cite properly if I had recorded it) included an admission from someone in a different quadrant, that the best musicians are in the green quadrant.
The fool (variant of the jack character) has always been in the anti-establishment, and probably is most comfortable as an anarchist centrist, not placable within the quadrants. The Guy Fawkes mask representing the hacktivist collective anonymous is a stylised depiction of the best-known member of the Gunpowder Plot, an attempt to blow up the House of Lords in London. This character too has political significance. Its unknown capacity may keep in check the powerlust of both governments and corporations.
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Repeat of Quadrants Content
This section repeats the writing in the quadrants, for any who have difficulty reading in that format. Groups are presented in order of political party size.
Democrat
The ruler is the role of governments.
Example: bureaucracies assign entitlements
The lover could fit here as the most intent on caring for the sick and giving to the hungry, keeping the group cohesive
Example: schools, hospitals, social services
Republican
The creator is the role of business, making raw materials into commodities.
Example: inventors, merchants
The hero is willing to sacrifice their own life for the people or a cause.
Example: EMT, military, firefighters, police
Libertarian
The outlaw stands outside society as the quintessential rebel, pitting their own strength and wits against the establishment rules, either reviled or lauded depending on whether the establishment is seen as benign or destructive.
Example: back-to-the land homesteaders and survivalists, Hell’s Angels
The jester’s role in the king’s court was as a truth-teller, where he could be taken seriously or not. The jester could speak the truth without repercussion.
Example: The Yes Men. Comedians assume the role of social critics, practicing free speech.
Green Party
The sage leaves behind the cares of the “regular person” to live a simpler nobler existence, to inspire, teach, or heal.
Example: spiritual teachers or renunciates who don’t adhere to a specific religion
The innocent is un-worldly, the idealist who believes in the possibility of peace.
Example: church leaders or non-violent activists
The hero fits in this quadrant also.
Example: social justice warrior getting attention thru violent or non-violent civil disobedience