Political extremism in an attempt to change political values
With the rapid growth of the population, technological revolution and sophistication in democracy, extremism thrives on challenges, inequality, unemployment, exclusion and political values. Social movements are imperative for citizens to create change or resist change or enact change through a political voice, especially for disfranchised citizens. Their main goal is to create social change as activists worldwide advocate using violence to resolve these inadequacies, the consequences and impacts of violence aftermaths rage through communities affecting innocent non-deserving citizens (Colussi, 2018). Over the decades, the use of violent extremism continues to rise in the united states, as some of the citizens question the government’s ability to protect its citizens. However, encouraging violence is morally unjustified as it prompts harsh security responses to counter it. This discourse seeks to expound on the negative impacts of violence in an attempt to change political values.
While modern democracy has shifted to resist and rebel against oppressive governments, political violence remains a global reality. While citizens are expected to respect the values of liberal democracy, there are instances where people have resorted to violent tactics after exploring options other last democratic avenues. The consequences of these actions have been way devasting, and impacts live on for decades (Graef, 2020). In all instances, social grievances result in conflict from social groups based on inequality, exclusion, and dissatisfaction of basic needs. Conflict arises when such groups are mobilized by activists to blame others for perceived political problems.
With a particular focus on me, I am totally against addressing political upheaval by using violence for several reasons. Firstly, violence leads to deaths and injuries or long-term health effects of innocent civilians. Consequently, it impacts the state’s cost as it deals with more people in need of disability pensions for being incapacitated, or families enduring long-term cost for caring for a disabled person. Secondly, the use of violent tactics comes with a share of devastating consequences on economic growth; Simultaneously, political unrest and violence may be a short-lived wave, and the impacts are long term for those that exist within its wake. People will be left living in uncertainty with no assurance of their safety. Notably, no citizen will have the confidence of investing in their home country for fear of vandalism in the wake of impending political violence. Consequently, the economy of the country suffers (LaFree, 2018). Thirdly, violence undermines the system of law and order in any democratic state, and this is considered immoral and degrading. Restoration of law and order in a politically unstable nation proves to be one of the most challenging tasks, hence the reason why political instability and war-torn nations suffer years of civil wars and democratic degradation.
Increasingly, political extremists are motivated by fear, anger, racial prejudice and difference in political ideologies. In an attempt to prove their powers, they are constantly involved in controversial movements that normally end up in violent extremisms (Colussi, 2018). In the U.S., they are a growing threat of these biased ideologies and movements linked to violent acts such as domestic terrorism. With the U.S. having at least six types of political extremistsâ groups within their territories, they are bound to deal with their actions f unrest as they hassle to address challenging security threats such as terrorism resulting from these movements (Graef, 2020).
These inequalities and dissatisfactions can be addressed in other nonviolent ways. On-violence entails using alternative strategies for aggressive social groups in pursuit of redress against inequality of political dissatisfaction. While most people believe in using force to spur social change, the aftermath of these events is way beyond salvage compared to nonviolent resistance. Nonviolence provides an alternative strategy for aggrieved political groups, which can be through symbolic protest, confrontation without violence, civil disobedience. While these methods can be slow to effect change, it fosters political consolidation and consequently political change. Where the perceived groups have alternatives. According to Cunningham, through his research, he concluded that nonviolent movements converge to be more successful in the long run in attaining their goal and prompting political change compared to the use of violence (Cunningham, 2017).
Conclusion
Political violence is greatly gaining momentum across the global realm, as social groups and political extremists are trapped in the center of unrest and political upheaval. In some cases, violence has been a short-term solution to their dissatisfaction but has left far more harm than good. As a form of quick response to anger, extremist acts such as terrorism have claimed the lives of innocent undeserving citizens. However, there are other non -violent mechanisms capable of changing political values. These mechanisms may not be sporadic, but will eventually bear fruits.
Reference
Colussi, T., Isphording, I. E., & Pestel, N. (2016). Minority salience and political extremism.
Cunningham, Kathleen Gallagher; Marianne Dahl & Anne Fruge (2017) Strategies of Resistance: Diversification and diffusion. American Journal of Political Science 61(3):591-605
Graef, J., Da Silva, R., & Lemay-Hebert, N. (2020). Narrative, political violence, and social change.
LaFree, G., Jensen, M. A., James, P. A., & SaferâLichtenstein, A. (2018). Correlates of violent political extremism in the United States. Criminology, 56(2), 233-268.
.
