Detailed Study Notes on Left-Wing and Right-Wing Radicals by Herbert McClosky and Dennis Chong.

INTRODUCTION

  • Author(s): Herbert McClosky and Dennis Chong
  • Publication: British Journal of Political Science, Vol. 15, No. 3 (July 1985), pp. 329-363
  • Context: Discussion on the placement of radical left and right within the political spectrum despite the conventional view of them being opposites.
  • Key Ideas:
    • The radical left and right may have similar political and psychological characteristics.
    • Reference to the research in The Authoritarian Personality (Adorno et al., 1950)

POLITICAL SPECTRUM CONTROVERSY

  • Key Concepts: The Authoritarian Personality
    • The F scale measures a person's level of authoritarianism.
    • Far-right individuals score high on the F scale, suggesting high authoritarianism.
    • Far-left individuals traditionally score low, indicating low authoritarianism.
  • Criticism of the F scale:
    • Critics argue it is biased towards identifying right-wing authoritarianism while neglecting left-wing structures.
    • Edward Shils disputes that authoritarianism is only a property of the far right, asserting that far left also shows similar characteristics.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN RADICAL CAMPS

Psychological Characteristics

  • Both left and right radicals:
    • Exhibit zealotry and implacable hatred towards their opponents.
    • Exhibit intolerance towards dissent and equate political conflict to moral struggles.
    • Share views of conspiratorial and secretive influences in political systems.
  • Milton Rokeach’s Findings:
    • Dogmatism and closed-mindedness as forms of thinking common in both camps.
  • H. J. Eysenck's Findings:
    • Both radicals possess qualities of tough-mindedness, distinguishing them from moderates who are more tender-minded.

DICTATORSHIPS EXAMPLES

  • Far-Left Dictatorships Include:
    • Soviet Union, Communist China, East Germany, Cuba, etc.
  • Far-Right Dictatorships Include:
    • Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, Franco's Spain, etc.
  • Common Traits:
    • All are single-party regimes, oppressive, police states with crushed civil liberties, managed elections, and no legal opposition.

MOVEMENT BEHAVIOR

Far-Left vs. Far-Right Movements

  • Hostility Tactics:
    • Both extremes use tactics of silence against detractors or opposition groups, showcasing fervent intolerance.
    • Historical example: Stalin's branding of rival factions as 'fascist'.
  • Violent Demonstrations:
    • Use of physical violence and intimidation by radicals on both sides against perceived enemies.

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL STYLE

Authoritarian Propensity

  • Both sides exhibit:
    • Distrust of democratic institutions.
    • Support for repressive measures against opposition for the sake of societal ‘greater good’.
  • Paranoia and Conspiracy Theories:
    • Perception of political environments dictated by shadowy conspiracies detrimental to their goals.

THE F SCALE AND BIAS

  • The F scale is criticized for being a subjective measure biased towards identifying characteristics predominantly of the right.
  • Items within the scale reveal a greater relevance to right-wing ideologies.
  • Examples of F Scale Items include:
    • Importance of authority figures, attitudes toward sex crimes, and respect for parents that resonate more with right-wing ideologies.
  • Conclusion: The findings from the F scale are not indicative of genuine ideological positions across both ends of the political spectrum.

SAMPLING ISSUES

  • Challenges in gathering data from left-wing radicals due to their resistance to surveys.
  • Most collected data reflect a transient, less radical left demographic.

SELF-IMAGE OF THE RADICAL LEFT

  • Portrayed as a persecuted minority within a host society, often leads them to adopt defensive stances on civil liberties when they intersect with their needs.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

  • Anticipated findings suggest radical left and right would share characteristics in their voicing of demands and social views despite ideological divergences in other areas.

CONSTRUCTION OF SCALES

Far-Left Scale Items Example:

  • Perception of American Government:
    • Belief that it is rotten compared to Communist nations.
  • Use of violence by radicals:
    • Justified in scenarios of oppression.

Far-Right Scale Items Example:

  • Patriotism and respect for authority emphasized more in extreme right assessments.

DIFFERENCES IN POLICY AND ATTITUDES

  • Contrasting Views on Social Issues:
    • Left advocates for liberation from oppression; right focuses on control and reinstating traditional norms.

CONCLUSION

  • Observed similarities counter conventional wisdom that places the radical left and right as opposites.
  • Both camps share authoritarian tendencies relative to their political engagement and styles, suggesting significant parallels in their engagements with democratic structures.
  • Suggested further research in non-American contexts may provide even clearer insights into radical ideological parallels internationally.