Introduction

Extremist Groups: Information for Students is designed to provide key facts and insight into the history, philosophy, and motivations driving 150 extremist organizations. Although some groups are included for historical perspective, the vast majority are active in some form today. The groups profiled range from local political activist and special-interest groups to international terrorist organizations.

What constitutes extremism is usually contentious and often a matter of cultural or political perspective. Some groups actually admit and embrace their extremism as justifiable toward accomplishment of their agenda or goals. Others work hard to present themselves as more mainstream or "activist" groups. Although many extremist attitudes and acts are seemingly indefensible to a large segment of society, it is also fair to note that the charge of "extremism" is an often-used label applied by opponents in order to marginalize or dismiss an organization's philosophical goals.

Consider the similarities and differences in the use of the word "extremists" in the following quotes:

What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists, is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents. Robert F. Kennedy

The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be … The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Clearly these contrasting uses show that the problems of defining extremism dwarf those encountered with other problematic definitions related to "terrorism" or "hate groups," and can at times mimic those encountered for "activist" or "radical groups". For example, all terrorist groups are extremist groups, but the reverse is certainly not true. The vast majority of extremist groups are not terrorist groups. Even if some members engage in violence, most groups can not be easily categorized as terrorist groups because the violent actions associated with them are often those of a disturbed individual or smaller subgroup working under the same philosophical umbrella.

Accordingly, without an accepted scholarly or even popular definition of "extremism" the editors faced difficult choices. Violence or advocacy of violence was always qualifying, but another criteria applied to the selection of non-terrorist, nonviolent groups was whether the group's tactics were not those generally endorsed or used by the majority of groups with similar goals. Some groups operate so far outside the pale of generally accepted morality, ethics, and historical fact that their inclusion as extremist groups was warranted simply based upon rhetoric. Groups that engaged in the loftier types of positive change extremism, were not, conversely, included.

With literally thousands of potential candidate groups, the editorial focus narrowed to including those groups that could best represent the broad spectrum and global diversity of agendas and tactics. The editors, additionally, sought to provide an overview of the variety of responses to extremist groups and the efforts of government and civilian efforts to quash or counter these groups.

Extremist Groups: Information for Students seeks to give readers the basic tools and information to form their own judgments regarding the groups and philosophies examined herein. In an era where news, fact, "spin," and opinion often too easily commingle, Extremist Groups: Information for Students should provide a foundation for further critical reading. By offering global perspectives from an international staff of researchers, we intend that Extremist Groups: Information for Students will challenge readers—not necessarily to agree with all the definitions, labels, and assertions contained herein, but rather to form their own opinions about what constitutes extremism.

ADVISORS AND CONTRIBUTORS

While compiling this volume, the editors relied upon the expertise and contributions of an experienced and internationally distributed research staff composed of multilingual scholars, researchers, journalists, and writers. In the vast majority of cases, researchers, writers, and advisors were based in the countries or regions in which the extremist groups listed in this book principally operate.

The editors gratefully acknowledge and extend deep thanks to the editors, imaging, and permissions teams at Thomson Gale for their patience and counsel in handling both content and publishing issues related to this project.