Understanding the Radicalization of The Left

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Leaning to the Point of Falling Over

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We discussed earlier this week that there are obviously extremes on both aisles in American politics. We have the Right, the Left, the extreme Right, and the extreme Left. Funny though, that actors of the extreme Right are easily identifiable - Neo nazis, white supremacists, and the KKK. One the contrary, it’s almost impossible to put a finger on the extreme Left and what that looks like.

And I think I’ve figured out why.

To repeat some of the findings of my last post, the Left is predominantly and historically concerned with the space for the marginalized. The Left fights against the structured of conservatism to ensure a platform for the most disenfranchised. Sometimes this is concerned with racial minorities, sometimes with refugees and targeted religions, sometimes the homeless or survivors of disasters. In day-to-day politics, race is likely the most explicit of the cases.

And since the role of the Left is to ensure space in any given structure, we can then identify the extreme perspective - the undermining of structure itself for the sake of the disenfranchised. I’ll draw the line in the sand there. Whenever a case for the ‘marginalized’ is made to attack any given structure, it is a form of extremism.

How does this play out in real life? Here are a number of examples -

• When boycotts are called because a corporation stands by it’s religious values
• When any attack is made on somebody because of their perceived maintenance of a “patriarchy”
• When any general statement on “white people” is made in order to justify racist statements and actions
• When transgendered individuals try to enforce ‘misgendering’ as a hate crime
• When hateful actions are forgiven because the perpetrator is a “victim” or product of “oppression”
• When Antifa publicly attacks others baselessly for the sake of “fighting fascism” (I find this one most ironic)
• When Twitter mobs are rallied because some comment or situation is seen as “insensitive”
• When forceful ‘deplatforming’ is justified by emotions
• A denial of reality and existing structures to reinforce personal world views - i.e. "Not my President"

I believe this is a solid list to start from. Identifying extreme leftism is paramount if we’re to make any real progress in the name of progressive ideals. The Left is meant to make space, not coerce it. It is meant to challenge social norms and structures, not to undermine it. It is meant to negotiate with mainstream historical readings, not coopt it.

The Extreme Victims

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So why do we have such a hard time calling these extremists out? Especially on the Left, we see a tremendous platform on mainstream media and mainstream culture for this type of extreme rhetoric. We see mobbed actions of Black Lives Matter forgiven simply due to skin color and we let “misgendering is violence” slide, simply because it is almost impossible to deduce what is Leftism and what is extreme Leftism.

My hypothesis on why triangulating the extreme is so difficult is because the purveyors of extreme messages are also perceived to be the victims themselves according to Leftist logic. Oftentimes, these messages are given a pass because the microphone for hate happens to be asian, or black, or a woman, or transgender. I don’t believe these to be sufficient excuse for flat-out hate. Here are of my favorite recent examples -

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A great litmus test for any of these is - if this was to be stated by a white man, would it fly? None of the above would survive to see another day. The incredible common factor is that all of these were produced either on mainstream platforms or extensively covered by them. This. Is. The. Radical. Left.

When we see statements or actions of extreme hate being done by a supposed marginalized “victim,” it is supremely difficult to challenge such a thing. The impulses of empathy, a trademark of the diverse Left, are far more powerful than any rationale. But this is one of the paramount responsibilities of the Left, especially since the ultimate goal is “progress.” That progress can only be achieved when the catalysts of that change are reasonable and compelling for the Right in particular. But when immutable characteristics of ‘minorities’ become excuses for deplorable behavior, non such progress will ever be made. In fact, we’re more likely to regress into a more tribalistic mindset.

This series of deductions and statements will likely not sit well with many readers. I absolutely welcome discourse and debate. I have always made clear that I stand by most liberal values and the main purpose of identifying radicalization on 'my side'