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John George and Laird Wilcox, two of the foremost analysts of rightand left-wing extremism, state that this definition reflects a common proposition about extremist behavior: it is more an “issue of style than of content.” <ref> John Geroege & Laird Wilcox, ''American Extremists: Militias, Supremacists, Klansmen, Communists and Others'', pg. 54, Prometheus Books, 1996 (ISBN 1-57392-058-4). George is a professor of political science at the University of Central Oklahoma. Wilcox is the founder of the Wilcox Collection on Contemporary Political Movements at the University of Kansas, one of the largest of its kind in the world, which contains hundreds of thousands of documents on all political movements. Id. at 6. He is also editor and publisher of annual guides on extremism. See Laird Wilcox, ''Guide to the American Right and Guide to the American Left'' (1997).</ref>  What the extremist believes is less important than what behavior he exhibits. Rather, extremism can cut across the political spectrum.31

John George and Laird Wilcox, two of the foremost analysts of right and left-wing extremism, state that this definition reflects a common proposition about extremist behavior: it is more an “issue of style than of content.” <ref> John Geroege & Laird Wilcox, ''American Extremists: Militias, Supremacists, Klansmen, Communists and Others'', pg. 54, Prometheus Books, 1996 (ISBN 1-57392-058-4). George is a professor of political science at the University of Central Oklahoma. Wilcox is the founder of the Wilcox Collection on Contemporary Political Movements at the University of Kansas, one of the largest of its kind in the world, which contains hundreds of thousands of documents on all political movements. Id. at 6. He is also editor and publisher of annual guides on extremism. See Laird Wilcox, ''Guide to the American Right and Guide to the American Left'' (1997).</ref>  What the extremist believes is less important than what behavior he exhibits. Rather, extremism can cut across the political spectrum.31

Most people can hold radical or unorthodox beliefs in a more or less reasonable and rational manner. Extremists present their views in uncompromising, bullying, and often authoritarian ways.

Most people can hold radical or unorthodox beliefs in a more or less reasonable and rational manner. Extremists present their views in uncompromising, bullying, and often authoritarian ways.

George and Wilcox look at extremists as persons psychologically prone to extremism, regardless of political affiliation: Both of us have had the feeling many times that the Bircher with whom we were talking could just as easily have been a Communist and viceversa.  It may be merely a question of who “gets to them” first. We tend to view the existence of an extremism-prone personality as a more reasonable hypothesis than attempts to account for the “pathology” of a particular point of view. George and Wilcox list twenty-two common traits of extremists. While

George and Wilcox look at extremists as persons psychologically prone to extremism, regardless of political affiliation: Both of us have had the feeling many times that the Bircher with whom we were talking could just as easily have been a Communist and vice versa.  It may be merely a question of who “gets to them” first. We tend to view the existence of an extremism-prone personality as a more reasonable hypothesis than attempts to account for the “pathology” of a particular point of view. George and Wilcox list twenty-two common traits of extremists. While

all people exhibit some of these traits at times, the important distinction is that “[with bona fide extremists, these lapses are not occasional.” The traits are:  

all people exhibit some of these traits at times, the important distinction is that “[with bona fide extremists, these lapses are not occasional.” The traits are:  

*(22) tendency to believe in far-reaching conspiracy theories.

*(22) tendency to believe in far-reaching conspiracy theories.

==Refereences==

==References==

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[[Category:politics]]

[[Category:politics]]