• masquenox@lemmy.ml
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    2 years ago

    Both words, “extremist” and “right-wing”, have no real hard definitions.

    No, right-wing ideology has a very hard and clear-cut definition - all politics that protects power and privilege. It really doesn’t get any simpler than that.

    Is being socially conservative right wing?

    It’s not supposed to be… but the only people self-applying the term in the US are fascists.

    Is supporting capitalism right wing?

    Yes. Period.

    anti-racist and pro-trans left wing?

    That’s not progressive - that’s radicalism.

    Is socialism left wing? Is only communism left wing?

    Yes.

    Is someone an extremist if they condone violence?

    No.

    Is someone an extremist if they seek to change the system fundamentally?

    No, that’s radicalism.

    Is someone an extremist if their political beliefs are very strongly held, no matter what they might be?

    No.

      • masquenox@lemmy.ml
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        2 years ago

        There is no common ground on these definitions.

        Yes, they’ve spent trillions on propaganda machines to make sure no clear meaning can be ascribed to rather simple political concepts. That doesn’t stop us from discovering their actual meanings at all.

        We both know that different people use these terms differently.

        Yes. See above.

        The German political education ministry for example defines extremism

        Sooo… power will attempt to “define” political concepts in a way that protects itself?

        On the other hand, the ADL defines extremism as any belief outside of the mainstream

        So, again… power will attempt to “define” political concepts in a way that protects itself?

        Meanwhile, the British government considers extremism to be anything opposed to “British values”,

        And… more of the same?

        fact is that they do not have clear definitions

        That’s because “definitions” are utterly useless. What isn’t useless is the meaning without which these political concepts cease to serve any purpose - and no amount of “muddying the water” will be able to rob them of that.