Age of Extremism

A new Age of Extremes is upon us.

Extremists have taken over the world affairs. They are steering the wheel, pressing the gas, frantically screaming as they head into the nearest precipice, with the rest of us thrown around as limp cargo at the back. 

Extremists have turned the Earth's most densely populated 365 square km into a launchpad for horrendous terror attacks and almost daily rocket launches.

Extremists have buried the peace process, convincing the Israeli public that oppression and disrespect for the human condition of millions can sustain in perpetuity a safe and prosperous existence for the remaining population.

Extremists have turned a large area, a little bit further NorthEast, home to some of the world's oldest cultural traditions, into a training ground for terrorists, a supplier to aggressors, a violent suppressor of women and descending voices.

Extremists in charge of the largest landmass on earth have started a bloody war against a neighbouring country, with no end in sight, threatening the world with a nuclear armageddon if their geopolitical wet dreams do not materialise.

Extremists in what used to be the most populous country in the world are ramping up their military fast, also dreaming of imperial expansion.

Extremists in what is now the most populous country in the world are eroding the country's democratic institutions and traditions, dreaming of ethnic purity along religious lines.

Extremists in the world's top economy are holding hostage the country's legislative branch, readying to have another go at destroying the country's democracy, which withstood a four-year attack from the very top.

Extremists in what used to be the world's major power before that managed to convince its population that it should abandon the world's most promising experiment at building a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous coexistence, despite differences in language, culture, and history, over what used to be the world's bloodiest continent.

Extremists in my neck of the woods almost achieved the same, but at the last moment, reason prevailed.

The extremists are winning, but they haven't won yet. 

The extremists grow and feed on each other's extremism. They need strong extremists in their opposition in order to draw power and support. If there are none, the extremists will invent them. But the extremists stand little chance of success against an organised, determined, resolute non-extremist majority. 

Extremists have a strong sway of the narrative, a large chunk of the information space, and even some major levers of power. But in most places, they remain a minority.

The extremists have created a polarised world where it is impossible not to pick sides. Even if you try to stay away from tragic choices, the extremists will decide for you which side to put you on and then punish you accordingly. 

In this polarised world, the most important strategy choice is where to draw the lines of bifurcation. If you side with an extremist, you become an extremist, and extremism thus gains further ground.

So, what could identify and unite an anti-extremist pole?

First, absolute respect of basic human rights. No matter how hideous a terror attack or an aggression, no matter how excruciating the pain, the sorrow, the grief are, there is no justification for committing or tolerating war crimes or ethnic cleansing, nor is there for turning away refugees.

Second, freedom of speech and a prevalence of empirical facts over emotive narratives, conspiracy theories, and propaganda. All opinions have the right to be heard, but the truth is not a matter of opinion. There are standards for establishing facts that should be adhered to. This is a point both for keeping good information hygiene at the personal level and for holding media and institutions accountable for maintaining solid standards on facts at the collective level.

Third and last, the rule of law and non-violence. There are many wrongs in the world, but they should be righted only through due process. If there is no resolution available through courts and votes, campaigning, strikes, peaceful resistance, civil disobedience take precedence over armed struggle. Violence is only permitted in defence, in response to aggression, and only to the extent that it causes less suffering than the evil it prevents (here and now, in the material world and not in metaphysical constructs).

All other issues come secondary in the age of extremes.

Political competition is the cornerstone of liberal democracies. We can and should continue to disagree and argue about taxation, welfare, the role of the state, the best policies for achieving goals, the best people in charge of setting policies and goals, etc., etc. However, we should no longer tolerate coalitions, coexistence on the same political platform, or geopolitical alliances with individuals, groups, or leaders that do not respect the above three minimum standards of anti-extremism.

We can still avoid a total catastrophe, but we are running out of time.