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Chapter 19 - The Psychology of Radicalised Conceptions of Democracy

Steps Too Far?

from Part III - For the People

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2022

By
Roderick Dubrow-Marshall
Edited by
Ashley Weinberg
Ashley Weinberg
Affiliation:
University of Salford
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Summary

In seeking overarching psychological explanations for barbarity and totalitarianism, there is a constant tug of reductionist logic that seeks to set aside the social, cultural and historical engines of radicalism and extremism and which leads to the inevitable conclusion that humans have an in-built and inevitable capacity to oppress and to destroy. However, in many respects, it can be argued that liberal democracies stand and fall on the underpinnings of the cliché that ‘one person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter’. If only we understood our enemies better, and all that they have been through, then their world, and ours, would be a much better place. Meanwhile, a historical vista and understanding show that radicalised conceptions of democracy are a constant presence on both the far Left and Right of politics, often characterised by themes of coercive culture. This chapter will provide an analysis of the operation of such radicalised movements and will show how psychology has contributed to understanding them.

Keywords

radicalisationextremismcoercive controlcoercive culturepolitical cultsreligious cults
Type
Chapter
Information
Psychology of Democracy
Of the People, By the People, For the People
 , pp. 423 - 440
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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