Definition of extremism

Types of extremism
Political, national and religious
Essential characteristics of extremism
EXTREMISM: DEFINITION, TYPES AND ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS
The term "extremism" (from the lat. extremus - extreme, last) means an attachment, in
politics and ideas, to views and actions that belong to extremes (edges). If the
phenomenon of "extremism" has been known since ancient times, the term "extremism"
does not have a multi-century history. It has been used in the political press in England,
since the mid- XIX century. In the U.S., this concept originated during the Civil War
(1861-1865). In France, it started to be used during World War I (1914-1918).
Definition of extremism
According to the Russian researcher S. Fridinskiy, the term has been actively used to
refer to the followers of extreme views, characterizing for example, from the beginning
of the twentieth century, what at that time were considered to be the representatives of the
left wing party, "Indian National Congress", who were consistent supporters of the
struggle to achieve complete independence of India.
American scholars Dr. Peter T. Coleman from Columbia University and Dr. Andrea
Bartoli from George Mason University consider that extremism is a complex
phenomenon, although its complexity is often hard to see. Most simply, it can be defined
as activities (beliefs, attitudes, feelings, actions, strategies) of a character moved away far
from the ordinary. In conflict settings it manifests itself as a severe form of conflict
engagement. However, the labeling of activities, people, and groups as extremist, and
the definition of what is ordinary in any setting is always a subjective and political
matter.
The American researcher at the University of South Florida, Randy Borum, in his article
Radicalization into violent extremism: a review of social science theories, brings the
following definition of extremism, taken from Palgrave Macmillan dictionary of political
thought Extremism can be used to refer to political ideologies that oppose a society's
core values and principles. In the context of liberal democracies this could be applied to
any ideology that advocates racial or religious supremacy and/or opposes the core
principles of democracy and universal human rights. The term can also be used to
describe the methods through which political actors attempt to realize their aims, that is,
by using means that 'show disregard for the life, liberty, and human rights of others
Russian researcher Morozov I. understands extremism, in the most general outlines, as
the tendency of an actor (active participant in a process) to occupy an extreme single-
minded position in relation to his opponent, founded on promotion of personal interests,
ideas, convictions, position that denies compromise and does not take into account the
interests of the opposing side.
 According to the Russian scientist Olshansky D. extremism, on the political dimension,
opposes the prevailing social structures and political institutions, trying to undermine
their stability, weaken and overthrow them in order to achieve their goals - usually by
force. Extremism denies any nonconformity.
For the russian lawyer Kornilov T. extremism is a product of fragmentation of society
that has no common ideology, common values and goals. It occurs where there is
inequality and contrasting interests of social groups on aspects such as economic, social,
spiritual, racial, inter-religious and other. Escalation of extremist attitudes in society
occurs during periods of historical, geopolitical, socio-economic, socio-cultural,
informational aggravation (inflammation, exacerbation), as well as other contradictions in
societies
It is worth to mention the definition given by E. Ulezko: under extremism in
its political or ethno-confessional expression we should understand the political activities
aimed at undermining the foundations of the state system, incitation of ethnic or religious
hatred, but the concept of "armed extremism" should be interpreted as armed activities
directed towards the achievement of political goals.
In our view a successful analysis of definitions of extremism was carried by the Russian
researcher Vorontzovym S.
The researcher has formulated the following features of extremism:
- Presence of an existential idea, different than the present one carried out in the state or
society at the moment;
- Intolerance to the supporters of other political, economic, ethnic, or confessional views;
- Achievement of extremist goals by violating the current legal norms;
- Publicity and mass propagation of extremist views;
- Ideological foundations for justification of force use against any person, not agreeing to
the extremist convictions;
- Prevalence of emotional methods of expressing the extremist ideas;
- Demonstrative ignorance of accepted moral norms and moral rights in a society.
Judicial definitions of extremism
International law definition of extremism is given in 3rd paragraph., 1st part, art 1 of
the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism:
Extremism "is an act aimed at seizing or keeping power through the use of violence or
changing violently the constitutional regime of a State, as well as a violent encroachment
upon public security, including organization, for the above purposes, of illegal armed
formations and participation in them, criminally prosecuted in conformity with the
national laws of the Parties.
States Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) view the fight
against terrorism and extremism as one of the main tasks for assuring their national
security. In connection with this on 14th May 2009 on the 32nd Plenary meeting of the
 Inter - Parliamentary Assembly of the states participants of CIS, was adopted a Model-
law on combating extremism, legal and organizational foundations of combating
extremist activity, but also responsibilities to those carrying out its combating.
In Republic of Moldova the law countering extremism activity was adopted on 21st
February 2003. In accordance with Article 1, of this law extremism is the position, the
doctrine of some political currents that are based on extreme theories, ideas or opinions
that seek to impose of their program through violence or drastic measures. In the
concept of extremist activity is included: - Forced change of the constitutional order and
the violation of the integrity of the Republic of Moldova;
- Undermining the security of the Republic of Moldova ;
- Seizure of state power or unauthorized self-appropriation of official authority;
- The creation of illegal armed formations (groups);
- Carrying out terrorist activity;
- Incitement to racial, ethnic or religious hatred, and social friction related to violence or
incitement to violence;
- Humiliation of national dignity;
- Provocation of riots, acts of hooliganism or vandalism motivated (fueled) by
ideological, political, racial , national or religious hatred or enmity, or by hatred or
hostility toward a social group;
- Propaganda of exclusivity, superiority or inferiority of citizens on the basis of their
religion or race, nationality, ethnic origin, language, religion, sex, opinion, political
affiliation, property or social origin;
b) propaganda and public display of nazi symbols or attributes, or display of the nazi
symbols or attributes up to the point of their mixing with other symbols.
c) funding or other assistance towards the implementation of activities or acts referred in
paragraphs a) and b), also including through the provision of finance, real estate, training,
printing and logistics, telephone, facsimile and other means of communication and other
logistical (technical-material) assistance, including information services;
d) public incitement to commit acts or activities referred to in paragraphs a), b) and c)
Conclusion
Under extremism should be understood political activities aimed to undermine the
foundations of the political system, inciting ethnic or religious hatred, and expressed in
the use of force and aggression in achieving political goals.
Reasons and conditions, under which extremism is born, could be
considered:
- Inter-religious and Inter-faith contradictions
- Ethnic and ethno-cultural contradictions
- Interracial contradictions
 - Political contradictions ( between forces fighting to acquire power in a state)
- Intra-national (amongst states, international) contradictions.
- Interclass contradictions
- Economic-Market differences ( between different sectors of the modern economy and
the various global players in today's market)
-Ideological differences (between the followers of different ideologies and doctrines,
offering various forms and methods of resolving all social contradictions).
extremism radicalism terrorism
Radicalism would mean breaking away from an already recognized tradition, specifically
its root changing. Radical (from lat. radix root) supporter of root and decisive
actions. The concept of radicalism defines the socio-political ideas and actions aimed at
key and decisive changes of the existent social and political institutions and norms. In a
broader sense, the concept of political radicalism is seen as a special socio-cultural
phenomenon, caused by specific historical, social, economic, and religious factors in the
development of a state, aimed at changing it at a fast pace.
Radicalism is not linked directly with any specific ideology. On the political dimension
there is a difference made between left and right, between revolutionary and reformatory,
and also there are anarchical types of radicalism.
terrorism is a further continuation of extremism. Usually, terrorism is defined as an edged
form of extremism. Principle oriented differences, between extremism and terrorism
consists in the human lives factor. When an extremis from threatening to use violence
switches to killing of innocent citizens, he becomes a terrorist. For example in the
Preamble of the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, adopted
on the 9th of December 1994 by Resolution No. 49/60 at the 84th Plenary Meeting of the
UN General Assembly, we see expressed a deep concern that in more regions of the
world more often acts of terrorism based on intolerance or extremism, are being
committed.
Types of extremism
Political extremism
Under political extremism experts understand the tendency of an actor supporter of a
radical ideology, to take an extreme, decisive position against a political opponent on the
subjects of government power organization, state structure, the functioning of the
political system, by any means to realize its own interests, to impose to other participants
in the political process, their views and beliefs as being the only ones available, not
having an alternative, not involving a consensual approach in relations with the political
positions of the its opponent
Political extremism is split into left and right. The most recent proposals are ecological
and anti-globalization extremism. Left extremist are anarchists, Marxists, Trotskyists and
 etc. Right extremists stand against Bourgeois societies, criticizing it for the decline of
moral values, mass culture, and absence of order

Ecological extremism
Ecological extremism opposes scientific and technological progress, manifesting itself
through the use of extreme measures against all that seems to them as environmentally
hazardous production. So it is considered that Green Peace is an extremist international
organization
Anti globalists
Anti globalists oppose the globalization processes, but more specifically the trans-
national corporation that have the aim, according to them, of enslaving the developing
countries of the world.
Nationalist extremism
Nationalist extremism stands for slogans such as protection of own people, its
economic interests, cultural values, being usually against the representatives of other
nationalities, living on the same territory. An example of nationalist extremism is the
skin-heads movement.
Nationalist extremism and terrorism linked to separatism acts from a position to protect
the interests "of ones own nation", it similarly rejects the rights of other ethnic groups.
Nationalism is the ideological basis of terrorism worldwide.
Religious extremism
By religious extremism it is understood a social-political movement, aiming at
influencing the process of society development, based on religious-legal norms and
doctrinal dogmas. Religious extremism is not any different than any other form of
ideological violence and manifests itself through intolerance towards exponents of other
denominations or indeed hatred within the same denomination. The main goal of the
religious extremists is recognition of his religion as the leading one, and suppression of
other denominations.