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Extremism is a term used to describe the actions or ideologies of individuals or groups outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common moral standards. An ideology is a set of beliefs aims and Ideas especially in politics The term is invariably, or almost invariably, used pejoratively. Words and phrases are pejorative if they imply disapproval or contempt Extremism is usually contrasted with moderation, and extremists with moderates. (For example, in contemporary discussions in Western countries of Islam, or of Islamic political movements, it is common for there to be a heavy stress on the distinction between extremist and moderate Muslims).

The terms extremism or extremist are almost always exonymic — i. e. applied by others to a group rather than by a group labeling itself. Rather than labeling themselves extremist, those labeled as such might describe themselves as, for example, believing in militant action. There is no political party that calls itself "right-wing extremist" or "left-wing extremist", and there is no sect of any religion that calls itself "extremist" or which calls its doctrine "extremism".

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Radicals as extremists

The term "extremist" is used to describe groups and individuals who have become radicalized, in some way, even though the term radical originally meant to go to the root of a (social) problem. Political radicalism or simply radicalism is adherence to radical views and principles in Politics. The term "radical" is one not normally regarded as pejorative (except perhaps in the United States of America) and, unlike "extremist" is sometimes used by groups in their description of themselves.

The term "extremist" is often used with reference to those who use or advocate "violence" against the will of "society at large", but it is also used by some to describe those who advocate or use "violence" to enforce the will of the social body, such as a government or majority constituency. Those described as "extremist" would in general not accept that what they practice or advocate constitutes "violence" and would instead speak in terms of "acts of resistance" or "militant action" or "the use of force. " The word "violence" cannot be regarded as "value-neutral". Ideology and "methodology" often become inextricably linked under the single term "extremism".

The notion that there is a philosophy which can be described as "extremism" is considered by some to be suspect. Within sociology, several academics who track (and are critical of) "extreme right-wing" groups have objected to the term "extremist", which was popularized by "centrist" sociologists in the 1960s and 1970s. As Jerome Himmelstein states the case: "At best this characterization tells us nothing substantive about the people it labels; at worst it paints a false picture. " (Himmelstein, p. 7). The act of labeling a person, group or action as "extremist" is sometimes claimed to be a technique to further a political goal — especially by governments seeking to defend the status quo, or "political centrists". In any event, the term "extremist" — like the word "violence" — cannot be regarded as "value-neutral".

On the other hand, according to George and Wilcox, the "extremist" label has been historically applied to both the "extreme right" and "extreme left", but they claim that some academics on the left wish to change the frame of reference to one in which only the "far right", but not the "far left", lies "outside the pale of societal acceptability. "

"Extremism" as part of a spectrum of behaviour

"Extremism" is not a stand-alone characteristic. The attitude or behavior of an "extremist" may be represented as being in a spectrum which ranges from mild interest through "obsession" to "fanaticism" and "extremism". The alleged similarity between the "extreme left" and "extreme right", or perhaps between different religious "zealots", may mean only that all these are "unacceptable" from the standpoint of a supposed mainstream or majority .

Uses of the term in "mainstream" politics

John F. Kennedy paraphrased Dante by saying "The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who, in time of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality" (from Dante, Inferno, The Divine Comedy). John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of The Divine Comedy

Barry Goldwater said, "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue" at the 1964 Republican Convention in a sentence attributed to his speechwriter Karl Hess. Karl Hess ( May 25 1923 April 22 1994) was an American Speechwriter, editor, Welder, Motorcycle

Robert F. Kennedy said, "What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy (November 20 1925 – June 6 1968 also called RFK, was the United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and a The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents. "

Purported characteristics of extremism

Laird Wilcox, who has been described as "an American researcher specializing in the study of political fringe movements" identifies 21 alleged traits of a "political extremist":

  1. A tendency to Character assassination
  2. Name calling and labeling
  3. The making of irresponsible, sweeping generalizations
  4. The failure to give adequate proof of assertions made
  5. Advocacy of double standards
  6. A tendency to view opponents and critics as essentially evil
  7. A Manichean (bipolar) world view
  8. Advocating some degree of censorship and/or repression of their opponents and critics
  9. Identifying themselves by reference to whom their enemies are
  10. A tendency to substitute intimidation for argument
  11. Widely use slogans, buzzwords and "thought-terminating clichés"
  12. Claim some kind of moral or other superiority over others
  13. Doomsday thinking
  14. A tendency to believe that it is justified to do bad things in the service of a supposedly "good" cause
  15. An emphasis on emotional response, as opposed to reasoning and logical analysis
  16. Hypersensitivity and "vigilance"
  17. "May claim" some kind of supernatural, mystical or divinely-inspired rationale for their beliefs and actions
  18. An inability to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty
  19. "Groupthink"
  20. The personalization of hostility
  21. A tendency to assume that the system is defective if one is defeated

(full article here)

Eric Hoffer and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. were two political writers during the mid-20th century who gave what purported to be accounts of "political extremism". Laird Wilcox is described as "an American researcher specializing in the study of political fringe movements Character assassination is an intentional attempt to influence the portrayal or reputation of a particular person whether living or a historical personage in such a way as to cause A double standard refers to one class of entities being treated differently from another class of entities and implies an unfair or unjustified differentiation Manichaeism (in Modern Persian fa-Arab آیین مانی Āyin e Māni; Chinese zh 摩尼教 was one of the major Gnostic Religions originating Censorship is the suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable harmful or sensitive as determined by a censor A slogan is a memorable Motto or Phrase used in a Political, commercial, Religious and other context as a repetitive expression of A buzzword (also fashion word and vogue word) is a vague Idiom, usually a Neologism, that is common to managerial technical administrative A thought-terminating Cliché is a commonly used phrase sometimes passing as folk wisdom used to quell Cognitive dissonance. A doomsday event is a specific occurrence which has an exceptionally destructive effect on the human race Reasoning is the cognitive process of looking for Reasons for beliefs conclusions actions or feelings Logic is the study of the principles of valid demonstration and Inference. The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity Groupthink is a type of thought exhibited by group members who try to minimize conflict and reach consensus without critically testing analyzing and evaluating ideas Eric Hoffer ( July 25 1902 (or 1898 &ndash May 21 1983) was an American social Writer. Arthur Meier Schlesinger Jr, born Arthur Bancroft Schlesinger ( October 15 1917 &ndash February 28 2007) was a Pulitzer Prize recipient Hoffer wrote books such as The True Believer and The Passionate State of Mind about the psychology and sociology of those who join "fanatical" mass movements. The True Believer Thoughts On The Nature Of Mass Movements is a Social psychology book by Eric Hoffer published in 1951 which discusses the Schlesinger wrote books such as The Vital Center, championing a supposed "center" of politics within which "mainstream" political discourse takes place, and underscoring the alleged need for societies to draw definite lines regarding what falls outside of this acceptability.

In this way, both Communism and Fascism were described by some in the postwar "western democracies" as "extremist" movements, as were (arguably "fascist") groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based Fascism is a totalitarian nationalist and corporatist ideology Ku Klux Klan ( KKK) is the name of several past and present secret domestic terrorist organizations in the United States, generally in the southern states that are The term was also used at times to describe groups which held views outside of the "mainstream" but which did not necessarily advocate the use of physical force to achieve their objectives. Examples of such groups might be the John Birch Society, the Nation of Islam, and the movement for nuclear disarmament. The John Birch Society is a political education and action organization founded by Robert W The Nation of Islam ( NOI) (أمة الإسلام Ummah al-Islāmu) is a group founded in Detroit, Michigan, Nuclear disarmament is the proposed dismantling of Nuclear weapons.

Other terms

The term "subversive" was often used interchangeably, in the United States at least, with "extremist" during the Cold War period, although the two words are not synonymous. Subversion refers to an attempt to overthrow structures of Authority, including the State. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the

"Fringe" or "lunatic fringe" have also been used as synonyms or near-synonyms for "extremist".

See also

References

Dictionary

extremism

-noun

  1. extreme ideas or actions
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