Moderates
Moderate in the sense meant here is an intermediate position in between those generally classified as being liberal or conservative. It can be used both as an adjective describing such a position, and as a noun describing persons holding such a view.
In politics, moderates often seek conciliation between the views of various political parties, and often take positions partially derived from opposite views. For example, political moderates do not advocate the end of private property in the way advocated by Marxists, but also do not advocate all of the practices of laissez-faire capitalism. Religious moderates tend to take a position that is more liberal than that of fundamentalists, but not as liberal as those who would readily and proudly style themselves as such.
Perhaps because of their conciliatory and cautious general nature, it has been stated that there are no great moderates. While this point could certainly be argued, it is inarguable that most political and religious leaders recognized as great have generally been at least largely identifiable as being primarily either liberal or conservative. But moderates are vastly important. Usually the acceptance of the position being advocated by one of the two polar opposites is a result of one of them coming to terms with moderate supporters of that position, and usually, modification to make it acceptable to them.
Some political moderates are "bi-polar" in the sense that they side with conservatives on certain classes of issues, but with liberals on others, rather than consistently staking out intermediate positions across the board. In the United States, the term "neoliberal" is often used to denote those who hold conservative views on economic issues such as taxes and welfare, but are liberal on social and moral issues like abortion and gay rights. A person holding views opposite to this on both counts - taking a liberal stand on economic issues while lining up with the conservatives socially and morally - is sometimes characterized as a "national liberal."
See also: centrism
