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Politics

Far right v far left

142 replies

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 09:58

The description ‘ far right’ is banded about quite a bit these days; less so ‘far left’. So I was wondering what do those phrases mean to you?
What in your opinion makes someone far right or far left?

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 25/02/2025 15:26

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 14:54

@Bromptotoo , well that’s my question really. What do far right and far left actually mean?

In a UK context, as I've already explained, far right would cover those to the right of mainstream people on the Tory benches. Some of them eg Jenrick and Braverman, I'd regard as being borderline far right.

Far left is a mirror image, those well to the left of mainstream Labour and I'd regard a few current/previous Labour people like Abbot and Corbin as being borderline far let.

I don't think it's accurate or helpful to automatically conflate far right with old fashioned Fascists like Mosely etc advocated for in the thirties.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 25/02/2025 15:29

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 15:06

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves , this is beginning to become frustrating. Could you possibly help by explaining what the difference is between traditional right wing politics and far right politics as you see it? Thank you.

I've already answered this above.

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 15:30

The consensus seems to be that nothing short of communism is far left and one poster led me to google where I found this which I think is a reasonable explanation of the far right:-
https://www.politico.eu/article/who-are-europe-far-right-identitarians-austria-generation-identity-martin-sellner/
Would you agree?

OP posts:
EmmaMaria · 25/02/2025 15:39

Tauranga · 25/02/2025 14:57

Perhaps he can be both?

Edited

Not based on that definition. Or pretty much most of the ones on here.

If this thread is an example of political awareness, it is no wonder we are in the state we are in.

Adamante · 25/02/2025 15:47

PorridgeOatsSuck · 25/02/2025 14:11

I see Gaza protestors and SWP actively recruiting every Saturday in my local city. Online, a local well known lefty town has highjacked the local groups. They are all Corbyn++. I think that all counts as a healthy and thriving far left presence at least in the south of the UK?

This.

Adamante · 25/02/2025 15:48

@Maitri108

your posts on this thread are so ridiculous I almost can't actually believe you're real Grin

Maitri108 · 25/02/2025 15:48

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 15:30

The consensus seems to be that nothing short of communism is far left and one poster led me to google where I found this which I think is a reasonable explanation of the far right:-
https://www.politico.eu/article/who-are-europe-far-right-identitarians-austria-generation-identity-martin-sellner/
Would you agree?

Politics is a spectrum and to be at the far end of the spectrum is to be extreme. Politics tends to be based on ideology and there is clearly defined far left and far right ideology.

As I said in my first post, there's currently a push to render the far right meaningless as people don't want to be associated with it.

As such this thread, like all the other similar threads, is disengenuous. The far right parties in Europe share similar ideals if you take the time to study them.

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 15:48

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 25/02/2025 14:56

OK, you want definitions. Google can help.

But broadly speaking, a far left ideology rejects capitalism and the concept of private ownership altogether, and believes that everything should be shared equally between everyone.

A far right ideology is typically characterised by nationalist, xenophobic, homophobic, racist, religious fundamentalist, and/or other reactionary views.

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves , thank you.

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Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 15:52

Tauranga · 25/02/2025 15:02

The poster wants a discussion about what people on mumsnet see as far left or far right.

You communicate with a very patronising tone.

@Tauranga , thank you. That was the idea…
I hadn’t realised that some people have to consult google in order to form opinions.

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Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 15:54

Maitri108 · 25/02/2025 15:03

I agree with the standard definition.

@Maitri108 , there is actually a ‘standard definition’? Seems unlikely.

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PorridgeOatsSuck · 25/02/2025 15:55

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 15:30

The consensus seems to be that nothing short of communism is far left and one poster led me to google where I found this which I think is a reasonable explanation of the far right:-
https://www.politico.eu/article/who-are-europe-far-right-identitarians-austria-generation-identity-martin-sellner/
Would you agree?

To be annoying, no I don't agree. The mistake getting made is to think there is 'the' far right, 'the' far left. They aren't monolithic. It's like saying 'the' GC movement as if it were The Tory party (and of course as we know even political parties are broad churches to some degree). When we talk about far left and think 'Stalin' or far right and 'Nazi', we fall into a trap. Especially as those examples are now very outdated. America first, incel, alt-right, generation identitaire, Tommy R...they are all just casual groupings that move and slide. You can't pin them down with one 'explanation', theory or definition. They are multifaceted and shifting. That video of trump is a glaring point in case.

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 15:56

PorridgeOatsSuck · 25/02/2025 15:15

Today (nazism or Stalinism is soooo 20th c), I would recognise far right as the gammons and young lads who try and burn down asylum hotels, people who talk about shooting refugees on the boat crossings (irl I have met these idiots). What I call America First are the unsavoury far right in the US which is concerned (more than Europe) with pursuit of hyper masculinity and control over women's bodies. This is why Andrew Tate has succeeded so well in his branding over the pond.

@PorridgeOatsSuck , thank you.

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Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 15:58

BarneyRonson · 25/02/2025 15:18

The problem is so much of the speech we hear is histrionic. People with the loudest, most insistent voices, who hyper react and over state their case. Nobody wants to say ‘your thinking is tainted by histrionic tendencies, stop talking for a while and try calm logic’. The media feeds off over statement and hysteria. Hence the inherent flaw in what is thrown around in the phrase ‘far right’.

@BarneyRonson , agreed.

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Maitri108 · 25/02/2025 16:01

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 15:54

@Maitri108 , there is actually a ‘standard definition’? Seems unlikely.

To the extreme left of the political spectrum. Communist ideology, revolutionary socialism, Marxism.

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 16:04

Maitri108 · 25/02/2025 16:01

To the extreme left of the political spectrum. Communist ideology, revolutionary socialism, Marxism.

@Maitri108 and on the extreme right?

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Maitri108 · 25/02/2025 16:08

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 16:04

@Maitri108 and on the extreme right?

I agree with the definitions you've already been given on the thread.

ExcessiveNumberOfNinjas · 25/02/2025 16:09

I agree with you OP, it drives me potty. Some people label everything right of centre as far right or fascist but they don't seem to think that a far left even exists. Just cuddly socialists who want equality and the best for everyone.

People on the left love to blame Brexit on the far right, but many a Marxist commie type will have voted for Brexit because communists and marxists are basically pretty nationalistic bunch. Far right and Far left have a lot in common actually.

People love to say Reform are fascist or far right but they are absolutely nothing of the sort. Not even close. Far Right and Far left are both very authoritarian and believe in a big state. Reform are all about personal freedoms and small state. More like old school Tories before the Tories went daft in the head.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 25/02/2025 16:11

I'm not sure how useful Left v Right is anymore. I prefer this model.

Far right v far left
lisa12000 · 25/02/2025 16:15

Far right to me is those groups who suggest they are not racist against people of colour but are ‘concerned’ about the dilution of British norms and values - so it’s a form of indirect racism (but still is the same in all but name) - for me nazis, EDL etc are not far right their extreme right as their racism is explicit and obvious - the far right and extreme right are intertwined so much now that I’m not surprised people are not sure what it is

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 16:17

ExcessiveNumberOfNinjas · 25/02/2025 16:09

I agree with you OP, it drives me potty. Some people label everything right of centre as far right or fascist but they don't seem to think that a far left even exists. Just cuddly socialists who want equality and the best for everyone.

People on the left love to blame Brexit on the far right, but many a Marxist commie type will have voted for Brexit because communists and marxists are basically pretty nationalistic bunch. Far right and Far left have a lot in common actually.

People love to say Reform are fascist or far right but they are absolutely nothing of the sort. Not even close. Far Right and Far left are both very authoritarian and believe in a big state. Reform are all about personal freedoms and small state. More like old school Tories before the Tories went daft in the head.

@ExcessiveNumberOfNinjas , I entirely agree especially that recently the Conservatives have moved very far away from traditional Conservative values. I don’t think either extreme of politics is desirable but I do think we should understand what those extremes are and stop calling people/parties ‘far’ this that and the other when they are not.

OP posts:
Maitri108 · 25/02/2025 16:18

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 16:17

@ExcessiveNumberOfNinjas , I entirely agree especially that recently the Conservatives have moved very far away from traditional Conservative values. I don’t think either extreme of politics is desirable but I do think we should understand what those extremes are and stop calling people/parties ‘far’ this that and the other when they are not.

Do you think the AfD is far right?

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 25/02/2025 16:22

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 16:17

@ExcessiveNumberOfNinjas , I entirely agree especially that recently the Conservatives have moved very far away from traditional Conservative values. I don’t think either extreme of politics is desirable but I do think we should understand what those extremes are and stop calling people/parties ‘far’ this that and the other when they are not.

So the real purpose of this thread is not to enhance your understanding of the terminology or to find out how other people what they really think, but rather to tell us why you don't want us to call Reform far right?

Maitri108 · 25/02/2025 16:37

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 25/02/2025 16:22

So the real purpose of this thread is not to enhance your understanding of the terminology or to find out how other people what they really think, but rather to tell us why you don't want us to call Reform far right?

They all are. There's been countless similar threads - it's very tiresome.

PocketSand · 25/02/2025 16:38

In western world at present it could be argued that the biggest threat is the massive increase in inequality. It's a fact that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

It may be assumed that increasing inequality leads to increasing support for left wing ideas and that increasing equality - trickle down meaning that the poor get richer - leads to support of right wing ideas.

Actually, the reverse is the case. Increasing economic inequality leads to increased support for right wing ideology. The previous high point in inequality was in the 1930s and we all know the ideological consequence.

The analogy of rats fighting in a cage whilst ignoring the experimentor outside the cage is apt.

At its core right wing ideology is divisive, it pits white against black, male against female, straight against gay, indigenous against immigrant, able bodied against disabled, gentile against Jew etc. But not poor against rich. As a supposed explanation for inequality that leaves the rich and powerful untouched if not increasing wealth and power.

So poor people get in a froth about immigrants stealing jobs, houses, benefits - remember when it was about teenage women getting pregnant for a council house? - so much so they are willing to try and burn them alive - but think they are justified and not like the people influenced by right wing ideology that preceded them.

No one but the influenced care about definitions. 'I am not a fascist'. Methinks you protest too much.

Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 25/02/2025 16:50

lisa12000 · 25/02/2025 16:15

Far right to me is those groups who suggest they are not racist against people of colour but are ‘concerned’ about the dilution of British norms and values - so it’s a form of indirect racism (but still is the same in all but name) - for me nazis, EDL etc are not far right their extreme right as their racism is explicit and obvious - the far right and extreme right are intertwined so much now that I’m not surprised people are not sure what it is

@lisa12000 , so if you express concerns about any group who are on a spectrum of brown then you are ‘far right’? Does that include Jews?

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