Political Extremes and Extremist Politics

Abstract

The study of political extremes and that of extremist politics tend to be distinctive occupations. The former draws heavily on political philosophy, and of necessity requires a definition of the middle, or political centre, and an understanding of how these shift, together, over time, and depend on particular cultural contexts. The study of extremist politics, in contrast, often assumes the ‘extremist’ attribute of its subject matter in order to analyse the behaviour, attributes, preoccupations, strategies, supporters and influence of extremist groups and individuals. The two can complement one another in examinations of how liberal democracies respond to extremist politics –especially government, media and electorate – and in comprehending the relative strengths and weaknesses of liberal democracies and extremists. The study of extremism reveals assumptions about mainstream politics and ethics, and their potential vulnerability to the causes of extreme dissent.