Extremism—the Fundamentals
The Conflict
The word "extremism" is used to identify people, ideologies, or organizations that differ radically from mainstream society to such an extent that they are seen as existing on the margins of that society. This term, however, is applied by those in the mainstream. "Extremists" today usually inhabit cultural worlds in which they are the center, not the margins. Disaffected, frustrated, and feeling under attack for their religion, culture, ethnicity, or other attribute, extremists may respond with violence in an attempt to change the situation or gain attention for their cause.
Social
- Extremists, once geographically isolated from one another, have used the Internet to connect physically separate communities of activists, disperse news, information, and in-group rhetoric. This both increases their interconnectedness with other extremist groups and increases their isolation from the mainstream.
- Suffering, be it human rights violations, ethnic or religious discrimination, or economic or other repression, is often a contributing factor to the formation of "extremist" groups.
Psychological
• Radical views, when joined with religion, often cast the universe in terms of a cosmic battle that depends on the actions of individuals who otherwise feel themselves a part of a faceless, meaningless society.
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