Rethinking Antifa
The Blue Review (2018)
7 Pages Posted: 27 Jun 2018
Date Written: March 12, 2018
Abstract
Along with the rise of right-wing extremist groups, a left-wing coalition—antifa—has started to receive increased attention. Its name derives from “anti-fascist,” and its membership is made up of a diffuse network of left-wing activists who openly use violent tactics to counter right-wing aggression. Their goal is to deny right-wing extremists a voice and platform. Antifa made headlines from the beginning of 2017, when an activist punched prominent white supremacist Richard Spencer in the face right after President Trump’s inauguration, spawning a debate about whether it was acceptable to punch a Nazi. As citizens, we have an obligation to understand and weigh what is gained and lost when political movements embrace fringe viewpoints and resort to violence. Sadly, this is not a new issue for the country. Ultimately, this paper argues that the political and social costs to pursuing violent campaigns substantially outweigh any short-term benefits.
Keywords: civility, political science, politics, social movements, non-violence
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