The Contemporary Accounts of the Emergence of Extremism

The Contemporary Accounts of the Emergence of Extremism
Extremism describes the holding of extreme religious or political views, which can be likened not fanaticism. In this definition, politics and religion are the main critical factors because they form the basis of arguments fronted by extremists. For instance, religious perceptions or views may be used to make political decisions where extremists are willing to hurt or kill people who hold different views (Armaly et al., 2022). In the United States, minority groups are the targets of extremists whose political and religious views have intertwined to produce hateful perceptions of an inclusive society. In the past decades, the United States has experienced multiple extremist events in which lives have been lost. In this regard, the aim of the current paper is to examine contemporary accounts of the emergence of extremism and determine whether it is a dangerous trend or an ultimate expression of a free society. America as a Free Society
The United States is a democratic society where people enjoy an array of freedoms that would only be a dream in totalitarian states. Freedom of expression, religion, free speech, a free market, and people with access to tools like guns that are otherwise forbidden in most countries in the world. While this list is not exhaustive of American freedoms, it suggests a society setting the pace in allowing citizens freedoms. However, the ultimate expression of a free society may have culminated in extremism. Nevertheless, the emergence of extremism is a threat to these very freedoms, which suggests that extremism is not the ultimate expression of a free society but a dangerous emergence. Examining contemporary accounts of the emergence of extremism in the country can help make this distinction. Contemporary Accounts of Emerging Extremism in the USA
Recent research suggests the most significant extremist threat comes from white supremacists (Jones & Doxsee, 2020). Following closely are anarchists and religious extremists inspired by al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. In June 2020, Harry Rogers, a member of the Ku Klux Klan, was arrested for driving into peaceful protesters. A week earlier, on the 3rd, three individuals associated with the ‘boogaloo’ movement were arrested while preparing to cause violence in Las Vegas. In the same year, the Brooklyn anarchist group members pressed for a rebellion against the government. Across these events, before and after, social media was another battleground where platforms were flooded by extremists (Ganesh & Bright, 2020). For instance, there was extensive misinformation, conspiracy theories, and incitements to violence, particularly in the wake of the Black Lives Matter Movement, following the murder of George Floyd in police hands.
Aside from these violent groups that attempted to dominate conversations on social media, some individuals have bought into their ideals and have embarked ...