Far right
The far right or extreme right is a political label used to identify parties and movements based on fascist, racist and/or extremely reactionary ideologies. Officially those on the far right embrace the concept of the "inequality of outcome", meaning that one group is naturally better than another. This can apply to everything from monarchies to Nazism, meaning that many far-rightists oppose others on the far-right who have a different idea of what the ruling class should be.
[edit] Common opinions of the far right
As far right is a neologism used by others than those considered far right, the definition is somewhat subjective. It is sometimes used interchangeably with "radical right", though most academics believe there is a difference between the two.
- Anti-immigration; sometimes combined with either anti-Semitism or Islamophobia; in many cases outright racism, such as white supremacy and/or ethnic-related conspiracy theories such as Holocaust denial, Eurabia and ideas about "white extinction"
- Anti-socialism and extreme anti-communism (as in endorsing conspiracy theories surronding the subject), though in some cases supporting a limited welfare state and occasionally even "state capitalism" (except in the United States where any sort of welfare is seen as communism). On the other hand in the states a number of paleoconservatives and laissez-faire types are more hostile to a welfare state and may desire to see the social safety net gutted entirely.
- Nationalism, possibly including historical revisionism
- Pro-life and promoting childbirth (see also white extinction scenario)
- Supporting family values and traditional gender roles, and is virtually always homophobic[1]
- Tough stance on crime, probably in support of capital punishment
- Environmentalism might be prevalent,[citation needed] as well as anti-environmental sentiment (climate change denial etc)
- Questioning universal civil rights and human rights.
- Reactionary beliefs, meaning beliefs that things were better some time ago (often before some major legislative change, such as civil rights laws).
[edit] Criticism of the label
Conservatives and other "traditional" right-wingers might be critical of this label being applied to them. The horseshoe theory stipulates that the far right has much in common with the far left.
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ Though some on the far-right, such as the Front National or Geert Wilders, may endore or claim to endorse gay rights if they think it gives them a more "liberal" argument against Muslims or other religious minorities