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Notes -
Yeah, we are probably not even trying to find the same variable. If there is some kind of latent personality trait that manifests in one's face, it would probably predict libertarianism vs authoritarianism more (as per big 5 priors), which is more or less nonexistent as a consideration outside of the US.
I'm not sure libertarian vs authoritarian is really the variable that makes US conservatism/liberalism such a different divide from elsewhere in the world- both parties have things they tend to be authoritarian on and things they tend to be libertine on(although you're correct that the hyper-libertarian "get off my property and leave me alone" mentality is pretty unique to the republicans). Instead I think it's because conservative and liberal whites are ethnic groups who vote in favor of their ethnic interests and against the other's ethnic interests, largely with ideology as window dressing. That's not to say that there are no real ideological differences- abortion is obviously one, for example- but I don't think libertarian/authoritarian is a relevant axis to compare them on.
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