The Extremist – Unyielding Spirits: The Extremist Struggle for Freedom (1905-1920)
The time period was 1905-1920, a period of radical change and turmoil around the world, marked by revolution, world war, and the rise of extreme ideologies. Interpretation of “extremist” in this period can be derived in political terms, social terms, and cultural terms. This essay analyzes the nature of extremism during this period, focusing on key developments and changes in movements and their impacts on society.
Historical Background
This was the century of fast industrialization and rising urbanization with the emergence of modern nations. Aftermaths of these developments were very complex and brought forth increased social tensions, class struggles, and challenges to tradition. Tensions that erupted in the aftermath of World War I (1914-1918) continued to perpetuate societal tensions, where nations struggled to recover from the devastation of war, economic instability, and questioning authority.
The Russian Revolution of 1917 epitomizes extremist ideas and practices that sprouted to transform the face of humanity. It not only brought a communist state into existence but also triggered revolutionary movements all over the world. This period can well be assigned for the transition of liberal democracy to totalitarian regimes when the societies felt the gross injustice meted out to them and sought radical remedies.
Political Extremism
At that time, political extremism appeared in different shapes like socialism, fascism, and nationalism. In the Europe region, the socialist movement found a strong impetus behind workers rights movements and social justice movements. Russian Bolshevik under the banner of Vladimir Lenin also supported an approach to a revolution against the capital order then prevailing there. The success of the October Revolution under the banner of the Russian Bolshevik is an example of greater dissatisfaction with socio-economic inequality.
Simultaneously, it gave birth to nationalist movements that responded in response to imperialism and colonialism. “Anti-colonial thinking culminated in the ascent of radical nationalist leaders who could deliver national independence from the forces of foreign domination. Periods of fermenting change, or periods of revolution, had ended. Radical new actors were sure to take up the challenge of making fundamental change in order to gain national independence. Some of the key nationalist leaders include Mohandas Gandhi and Sun Yat-sen who called for basic change as a precursor to gaining national independence.
But, however, fascist movements coming from Italy and then from Germany represented a type of extreme which has much more to do with anti-communism, militarism, and racial purity. The Mussolini regime in Italy found it imperative to rehabilitate national pride and decided not to adopt liberal democratic values. Adolf Hitler’s takeover in Germany forms another example for this trend wherein he came into power on the basis of extreme nationalism and exploited the economic despair and social disturbances to push through.
Ideological Extremism
Ideological thought, during this period, was no less involved, with all schools of thought up and down infusing the extremity’s path. Marxism, as enunciated by Karl Marx and later developed into socialism by Lenin, gave a sense of direction about the nature of class struggle and the imperative for revolution. By large sections of the working class feeling alienated by the capitalist system, this ideology brought them on board.
On the contrary, the ideology of fascism emerges as a reaction to Marxism and underpins a totalitarian state where individual rights are kept subordinate to a collective will of the nation. Fascism exalts the state and strives for unity of society on a single national identity, which is attained at the cost of minorities. Extreme nationalism, as an inherent feature of fascist thought, finds its culmination in xenophobia and expansionist policies.
The time also witnessed the enduring establishment of anarchism as a militant thought. Anarchists opposed all forms of hierarchical authority and called for a stateless society based on voluntary cooperation. It was through intellectuals such as Emma Goldman and Mikhail Bakunin that such ideas appealed to individuals disillusioned with both capitalism and state socialism.
Social and Cultural Extremism
On the social and cultural side, extremism did not miss out too. An early 20th-century example of extremism is that of the suffragette movement working for equal rights among genders. Women like Emmeline Pankhurst adopted militant means, saying conventional means and actions were insufficient to garner them voting rights. The extreme measures challenged societal norms, opening way for future feminist movements.
The Dada movement was a pro-anti-art movement against conventional aesthetics as a response to the atrocities of World War I, coming across in the cultural realm. Dadaists were rather provocateurs or enfants terribles responding to the general disillusion of the post-war generation, whose lives were marred forever by the aftermath of war. Extremism in art became extreme as it questioned not just art but the very foundations of society.
Impact of Extremism
Extremism in this phase continued to have broader implications. The Russian Revolution inspired waves of revolution all over the world, which led to the formation of the Soviet Union-the superpower of its times and a practical source of model for other communist movements. Conflict, however, found another fertile ground in the rise of extremist ideologies, as communism versus fascism became the defining saga of the 20th century.
Political upheaval is not all the fruits of extremism. Human rights abuses in the form of purges, political repression, and genocide occurred due to the rise of totalitarian regimes during the interwar period. One of the darkest moments in the history of human civilization is the extermination orchestrated by the Nazi government, an instance of the terrible potential of these ideologies.
Conclusion:-
The period from 1905 to 1920 was a crucible for extremism, which would go on to shape the political, social, and cultural landscapes of the 20th century. It indicated the massive disaffection with the existing structures, be it in the rise of revolutionary movements, nationalistic sentiments, or radical ideologies. Though its level was perhaps employed to extend social justice and equality, the levers of extremism were perhaps exploited to shore up authoritarian rule and violence.
Understanding this period forms a crucial pillar in recognizing the patterns of extremism that still ring loud today. The result of those movements reminds us how vulnerable democracy can be when radicalism goes unchecked and unabated. As such, amidst changing societal values and confronting their own messengers in the form of their homegrown extremists, lessons from this period are so aptly placed before contemporary societies to conduct a careful examination of the ideologies and actions shaping our world today.
Also Read:- Indian Council Act, 1909: The Morley-Minto Reforms ( Compromise of Power )