Extremist movements aren't new, but the tragic events in Oklahoma City, New York City, and elsewhere have awakened Americans to this frightening reality within our borders. What sorts of fringe groups exist? Who joins up and why? What do they want and what are they willing to do to accomplish their goals? How serious is the danger? In response to these questions, noted experts John George and Laird Wilcox have teamed up to examine the frayed edges of human behaviour. Beginning with a summary of pre-1960 movements, they then discuss conspiracy theories and what motivates extremists. Their thoroughly documented and detailed tour of contemporary groups on the "far left" and the "far right" includes recent militia groups making headlines. Included as well is an in-depth appendix on the use of fake quotes and fabricated documents a staple of many extremist organisations.
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This consideration of militias, supremacists, klansmen and others examines the foundations of hate crimes and movements which are on the fringe of social acceptance and American politics. From social and psychological analysis of individuals who join such movements to summaries of the history of various movements since the 1960s, this provides an excellent account. -- Midwest Book Review
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitive Work,
By A Customer
This review is from: American Extremists (Paperback)
When future American historians and political scientists look back at political extremism in the last half of the twentieth century, this is the book to which they will turn. It is thoroughly detailed and meticulously researched; in short the definitive work on this subject.The following groups, along with their leaders, are covered. THE FAR LEFT Communist Party USA THE FAR RIGHT Reverend Billy James Hargis and his Christian Crusade Appendix 1 contains 36 pages of fake quotes and forged documents extremists are fond of using. Appendix 2 contains a handy guide for extremist watchers and lists their common characteristics and differences. It also lists some mainstream organizations which are sometimes considered extreme, but really are not. A sample paragraph, from page 48 of American Extremists: "McCarthyism existed on a half-truth. There were Communists in the United States and some of them were entirely anti-American and would like to do in our system of government. For the most part, however, the Communists, real or imagined, were of no significant security threat to our country. What was a greater threat was the witch-hunting and official and unofficial persecution of these people as heretics. One of the worst things extremists can do to a society, usually without intending to, is to cause it to overreact and burn down the barn to catch the rat, so to speak. The net effect of domestic extremism has been negligible. The net effect of attempts to exterminate it have been quite telling, a legacy that haunts us to this day." "American Extremists" is the favorite book in my library, and, outside of the dictionary, the most useful.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laird Wilcox an extremist?,
By A Customer
This review is from: American Extremists (Paperback)
I have not only read this book, I have also studied under John George extensively. The idea that Laird Wilcox is a member of the "right wing" or has strong ties to extremist groups is not only misleading, it is ludicrous. Both of the authors consider themsleves to be center left ideologically and somewhat libertarian when it comes to constitutional issues. Just because they are not alarmists does not mean they don't understand the dangers of extremism. Instead of trampling the constitution they recommend caution. If you are interested in "extremism" there are no finer authors and very few books that are as well written or as balanced.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best, most fair-minded overview of American extremes,
By A Customer
This review is from: American Extremists (Paperback)
Laird Wilcox has, in his spare time, made himself an expert on both extremes of the American political spectrum. This book, combining looks at groups ranging from the farthest left "Hoxhaist" Communist parties, out to the neo-Nazis on the right, belongs on the bookshelf of anybody interested in these movements. Unlike Morris Dees, Wilcox has no personal axe to grind against one side or the other, which makes this book's section on "militias" a refreshing change of pace in the media-impelled hysteria following the Oklahoma City bombing. He points out that "(H)ad Randy Weaver been a Black Panther, or David Koresh a feminist neo-pagan, some civil libertarians might have shown more interest (in the charges of government abuse of power in their cases.)"
Buy this book; leave Dees' self-serving tome on the shelf.
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