On the Edge: Political Cults Right and LeftThis is the first book to document the extent of political cults on both the right and left and explain their significance for mainstream political organizations. The authors outline the defining characteristics of cults in general, and analyze the degree to which a variety of well-known movements fall within the spectrum of cultic organizations. The book covers such individuals and groups as Lyndon LaRouche, Fred Newman, Ted Grant, Marlene Dixon, the Christian Identity movement, Posse Commitatus, Aryan Nation, militias, and the Freemen. It explores the ideological underpinnings that predispose cult followers to cultic practices, along with the measures cults use to suppress dissent, achieve intense conformity, and extract extraordinary levels of commitment. |
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I wonder about these authors. They criticize a lot about the "cults". They point out endless negatives, and few if any positives. They tell us cult leaders are wrong because they want attention and recognition, but so do the authors. The authors want lots of people to buy their books, and I imagine they want to be recognized for their work. The authors strongly condemn authoritarianism, but they should realize that it can be a very positive force, a force that is in our society. For example, the military is authoritarian; would the authors call the military a cult? I sure hope not, and if they do, I side with the military. An interesting, but closed minded work.
Contents
| xi | |
| 1 | |
| 3 | |
Groupthink Big Brother and Love Bombing | 16 |
Cults on the Right | 35 |
Christian Identity A Heritage of Hate | 37 |
Soldiers of God | 57 |
The Travels of Lyndon LaRouche | 69 |
Fred Newman Lenin as Therapist | 104 |
Synanon Utopia as a Game | 124 |
Marlene Dixons Little Army | 145 |
Gerry Healy Guru to a Star | 156 |
The Lonely Passion of Ted Grant | 173 |
The Many Faces of Gino Perente | 189 |
Politics as a Religion | 203 |
Notes | 223 |
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Common terms and phrases
action activity American attack authority became become believe building cadre called chapter claimed close Communist conspiracy continued create critical cultic Dederich Democratic described developed discussed Dixon early effect encouraged evidence example existence experience extreme face feel followers force former Fulani further Grant hand Healy Healy's held human ideas Identity ideology individual influence interest International involved issues Jackins joined Labour LaRouche leaders leading living London March Marxism means meeting membership mind move movement Newman offered organization origins particularly Party Perente period political cults position practice present problems recruitment reported revolutionary role sense social society suggests Synanon theory therapy tion turn United Workers York
Popular passages
Page 4 - A group or movement exhibiting great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing, and employing unethical manipulative or coercive techniques of persuasion and control (eg isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressures, information management, suspension of individuality or critical...
Page 3 - ... of a jigsaw puzzle assembled by magic at one stroke. There is now an answer to every question, doubts and conflicts are a matter of the tortured past — a past already remote, when one had lived in dismal ignorance in the tasteless, colorless world of those who don't know. Nothing henceforth can disturb the convert's inner peace and serenity — except the occasional fear of losing faith again, losing thereby what alone makes life worth living, and falling back into the outer darkness, where...
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Bibliographic information
| Title | On the Edge: Political Cults Right and Left |
| Authors | Dennis Tourish, Tim Wohlforth |
| Publisher | M.E. Sharpe, 2000 |
| ISBN | 0765636409, 9780765636409 |
| Subjects | › › Political Science / Political Ideologies / General Social Science / Sociology / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |