There is another, even more important axis that could be called center versus extreme. (Or maybe pragmatism versus idealism, although this is more easily misunderstood.)
You can have a certain political opinion but in the end believe that in politics it is inevitable to make compromises and being moderate and realistic with your goals, and that you have to be able to agree to disagree sometimes. That's center.
Others wish for radical disruptive changes and revolutions towards their political goals and despise any compromises. These are extreme.
I believe that there are good reasons to reject extremism of any form and any political colour, even if you agree with the political direction, so to say. Take for example individual anarchism. Even if you are for maximizing individual freedom and civil liberty (= a liberal in the European sense), you can reject individual anarchism because it is a way too extreme, idealistic and overall unrealistic position.
As a political centrist I believe the same about every other political position. In my experience radicals and fanatics are too disconnected from reality, and as a run-off-the-mill left wing liberal (in the European sense) I'd rather discuss politics with a moderate right wing conservative than with some radical far right or far left nutcase.
The basic policy of every political faction used to be an extremist position. Free markets were a radical idea (the Kings and Queens of Europe favoured mercantilism), readopting an interpretation of Greek democracy from 2500 years ago was a revolutionary idea and everything to do with political liberalism was definitely considered by the monarchy and aristocracy to be extreme.
You can have a certain political opinion but in the end believe that in politics it is inevitable to make compromises and being moderate and realistic with your goals, and that you have to be able to agree to disagree sometimes. That's center.
Others wish for radical disruptive changes and revolutions towards their political goals and despise any compromises. These are extreme.
I believe that there are good reasons to reject extremism of any form and any political colour, even if you agree with the political direction, so to say. Take for example individual anarchism. Even if you are for maximizing individual freedom and civil liberty (= a liberal in the European sense), you can reject individual anarchism because it is a way too extreme, idealistic and overall unrealistic position.
As a political centrist I believe the same about every other political position. In my experience radicals and fanatics are too disconnected from reality, and as a run-off-the-mill left wing liberal (in the European sense) I'd rather discuss politics with a moderate right wing conservative than with some radical far right or far left nutcase.