Review article
RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM, RADICALISM AND THE WEST EUROPEAN NEW RIGHT
Damir Velički
; Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The starting point of this article is the concept of political extremism characterized
by the rejection of fundamental values of the democratic constitutional
state. Following a definition of the structural traits of right-wing extremism,
the author sharply distinguishes it from the related concept of right-wing radicalism.
Furthermore, the concept of so-called New Right is analyzed, as well
as the presence thereof in France, Italy, Great Britain and Germany. This is a
fitting concept for description of intellectual currents striving towards an ideological-
strategic renewal of right-wing extremism. Namely, an application of
extremist traits to the activities of the New Right, and, in particular, an analysis
of ethnopluralism as its essential line of thought, leads to the conclusion that
it stretches into the sphere of right-wing extremism. At the same time, emphasis
is laid on its function as ideological basis and means of connection with
the social environment which, precisely due to its “political mimicry” tactics,
represents a danger to democracy.
Keywords
political extremism; right-wing extremism; radicalism; New Right; ethnopluralism
Hrčak ID:
62964
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2010.
Visits: 3.216 *