In the past couple of decades, anti-establishment and radical movements have gained popularity throughout the world. Yellow vesters, Brexiters, Arab Spring protestors, and MAGA supporters are just some of the many social movements that embody distrust towards the government. Unlike mainstream parties or groups, these movements often approach change as political outsiders, appealing to the population with populist reforms that radically restructure institutions. They offer the oppressed and marginalized, those who are usually ignored in politics, a chance to voice their dissatisfaction. This discontent, however, can manifest divergently. Although sociologist George Simmel might not have imagined how polarized a society could become, he would be right however, to theorize that commonalities could exist between two deeply divided sides. Examining the radical-right and left movements reveals that while they hold vastly different ideological views, both sides share intolerance of other groups, frustration towards conventional politics, and similar mobilization tactics.<\/p>\n
Radical-right and left movements both hold absolutist ideals, which make them intolerant towards outsiders. These groups tend to \u201cshare the same high degree of moral outrage and anger,\u201d albeit at different targets, making members \u201cTrue Believers\u2026 with no doubts whatsoever\u201d (Domhoff). Essentially, radicals mark anyone who does not support their respective causes as enemies to their righteous cause. Although right-wing groups have often been painted as intolerant, research has shown that this intolerance is not just confined to a single political spectrum as any \u201cpolitical extremism reliably predicts intolerance\u201d (van Prooijen and Krouwel 2019:162). Unsurprisingly, these biased attitudes, although to a less degree, were also found among moderate liberals and conservatives (Hutson 2017). However, radicals\u2019 absolutist ideals extend beyond the bias of moderates, pitting extremists against the center. Moderate Democrats have condemned Antifa for their violence, and Black Lives Matter activists have continually pushed against the mainstream party (Melchior 2020; Barron-Lopez and Otterbein 2020). While most Republican circles have been more reluctant to condemn far-right activities, right-wing extremists have shown their willingness to clash against Republicans, sending death threats to election officials who do not stay \u201ctrue\u201d to their cause (Fowler 2020).<\/p>\n
Radical groups also share similar rallying tactics, using online platforms to mobilize and recruit. Both left- and right-wing extremists rely heavily on social media for their activities. The Alt-Right uses social media for coordination and growth and pushes their ideology into the mainstream through semi-organized Twitter propaganda campaigns (\u201cAlt-Right\u201d). Companies have attempted to deplatform Alt-Right users, but the movement remains a strong presence online with their memes and hashtags widely circulated. Likewise, as Antifa is a decentralized movement, social media is essential for mobilization since chapters \u201corganize mostly on message boards such as Reddit and over social networks like Twitter and Facebook\u201d (Cammeron). The movement has a \u201clarge following on social media, where it shares news articles and sometimes seeks to dox or reveal the identities and personal information of figures on the right\u201d (NYT). However, while both groups engage in online activities to mobilize and recruit members, they have also shown willingness to engage in physically aggressive tactics.<\/p>\n
Eschewing traditional means of protest and gaining power, radicals have engaged in violent activities to express their ideals. Overtly aggressive tactics are not exclusive to radical-left movements or far-right movements. Clashing with far-right rallies, Antifa members have been shown to engage in the \u201cdestruction of property and sometimes physical violence,\u201d (Cammeron). Like Antifa, right-wing groups such as the Alt-Right and the Proud Boys have demonstrated willingness to engage in violent activities, physically assaulting Black Lives Matter protestors and vandalizing property (Jackman et al. 2020). However, the two movements seem to split on their levels of violence. A CSIS report found that the far-right groups were behind the most U.S. terrorist attacks and have been involved in attacks and plots three times more often than left-wing radicals (Jones et al.). Nonetheless, both group\u2019s wiliness to engage in militant activities, both online and offline, distinguishes them from traditional organizations and demonstrates their common anti-establishment fervor.<\/p>\n
Unsurprisingly, radical movements tend to dislike and distrust mainstream parties. Antifa, arguably the most prominent radical-left movement in the U.S, is primarily composed of members who describe \u201cthemselves as socialists, anarchists, communists or anti-capitalists,\u201d essentially the far-left fringes of the political spectrum (\u201cWhat Is Antifa?\u201d). Antifa cares little for the establishment, holding \u201cno allegiance to liberal democracy, which they believe has failed the marginalized communities they\u2019re defending\u201d (Illing). Far-right movements have also rejected the mainstream establishment as members feel that the government has failed to protect their rights. This victim mentality and distrust show through the Alt-Right\u2019s \u201ccore belief is that \u2018white identity\u2019 is under attack by multicultural forces using \u2018political correctness\u2019 and \u2018social justice\u2019\u201d (\u201cAlt-Right\u201d). Breaking with mainstream conservative ideology, the Alt-Right denounces the right-wing establishment as useless and calls for \u201canarcho-capitalism, which advocates individual sovereignty and open markets in place of an organized state\u201d (\u201cAlt-Right\u201d). Although motivated by different ideologies, left and right radicals indicate that the current establishment has failed them.<\/p>\n
While both the radical left and right movements share similar mobilization tactics, absolutist ideals, and anti-establishment sentiments, they have polar raison d\u2019etre. Left-wing movements such as Antifa \u201coppose all forms of racism and sexism, and strongly oppose what they see as the nationalist, anti-immigration and anti-Muslim policies,\u201d whereas the right-wing movements embrace those exact values (Cammeron). These opposing views often result in violent clashes when the two movements meet. Interestingly, these antitheses voice disdain for the establishment, but what each movement visualizes as the \u201cestablishment\u201d seems quite different.<\/p>\n
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Works Cited:<\/p>\n
Al Jazeera. \u201cWhat Is Antifa?\u201d U.S. & Canada | Al Jazeera<\/em>, Al Jazeera Media Network, 2 June \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2020, www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2020\/06\/02\/what-is-antifa\/.<\/p>\n \u201cAlt Right: A Primer on the New White Supremacy.\u201d Anti-Defamation League<\/em>, Anti-Defamation League, www.adl.org\/resources\/backgrounders\/alt-right-a-primer-on-the-new-white-supremacy.<\/p>\n \u201cAlt-Right.\u201d Southern Poverty Law Center<\/em>, The Southern Poverty Law Center, www.splcenter.org\/fighting-hate\/extremist-files\/ideology\/alt-right.<\/p>\n Barron-Lopez, Laura and Otterbein, Holly. \u201cBlack Lives Matter activists strike back at Dems slamming \u2018defund the police,\u2019\u201d Politico, <\/em>19 November, 2020, https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2020\/11\/19\/blm-defund-police-democrats-437940<\/a><\/p>\n