Far-left politics

Far-left politics are ideas and movements that sit further to the left on the political spectrum than the usual left-wing views. This wide group includes many different beliefs such as anarchism, communism, and Marxism. People who support far-left politics often want big changes to society. They usually reject capitalism, which is the system where businesses and industries are owned by private people or companies instead of the government, and they also oppose neoliberalism and globalisation.

In modern times, some far-left groups have tried to achieve their goals through voting and working within democratic systems, especially in wealthy countries after the Great Recession. However, far-left ideas have not often succeeded in elections unless they team up with more moderate left-wing groups called social democrats.

Unfortunately, some far-left movements have believed that using force is necessary to fight against what they see as unfair or repressive systems. In some places, especially in less developed countries, far-left groups have formed rebellions or taken up arms. These actions are known as far-left terrorism and involve extremist, militant, or insurgent groups using political violence instead of peaceful, democratic ways to try to achieve their goals.

Ideologies

Far-left politics are found at the leftmost edge of the left–right political spectrum. They include a variety of beliefs within left-wing politics, such as communism and anarchism. These ideas are usually to the left of social democracy. The exact line between the centre-left and the far-left can be blurry and depends on the situation.

The modern far-left stands apart from social democracy because it opposes capitalism, neoliberalism, and globalisation. People drawn to far-left politics often want to correct injustice and unfairness, especially when it affects oppressed groups. Some may focus on a single issue, like environmentalism, without supporting all far-left ideas.

Communism and Marxism

Main articles: Communism and Marxism

Communism believes that society should organize around the needs and abilities of its people, rather than class divisions. It is a type of revolutionary socialism based on the ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Communism comes in many forms, especially since the end of the Soviet Union.

Marxism opposes capitalism. It sees the working class as the main force for change. Marx and Engels thought workers across different countries shared common goals. They believed that the most developed nations would likely see communist change.

Anarchism

Main article: Anarchism

Anarchism rejects all forms of authority and control, including the state. Some anarchists believe in a society based on cooperation and helping each other. Others focus on the individual and personal freedom. Anarchism has many branches, including ideas about the environment and direct action.

New Left

The far-left is sometimes split into the Old Left and the New Left. The New Left began in the 1960s as part of the counterculture of the 1960s. It focused on many social issues, like feminism, gay rights, and drug policy reforms. The New Left differed from earlier movements by caring about many kinds of social justice, not just economic issues. In the United States, it was linked to protests against the Vietnam War.

Positions

The far-left wants to create a society where everyone is equal and there are no classes. They dream of a world without capitalism, where resources are shared based on what people need rather than who owns them. They believe that all wealth and resources should be owned by everyone together, not just a few people.

Far-left groups care deeply about fairness and equality. They think that capitalism creates unfairness and want to end it. They also support protecting the environment, animal rights, and equal rights for women. Some far-left groups believe that big changes are needed to fix society, while others think working within existing systems can help make improvements. They often oppose big global organizations and military actions, especially by powerful countries.

Electoral dynamics

Far-left parties often struggle to win control of the government in parliamentary systems unless they join coalitions with social democratic governments. They face challenges in deciding whether to work with other parties and may moderate their positions to gain more voter support, which can cause disagreements within the party. The far-left tends to gain more support in countries with social inequality and poor economic conditions, especially among working-class, trade union members, and irreligious voters.

The far-left also includes many non-electoral activities, such as trade unions and social movements, which sometimes prefer direct activism over voting. Some far-left ideologies completely reject participating in elections. Over time, many far-left parties in Europe have shifted towards using elections more as revolutions became less likely. The far-left remains quite small in some regions like Southeast Asia.

History

See also: History of socialism, History of communism, and History of anarchism

Far-left politics began with ideas that resembled communist societies, such as those described by Plato and medieval thinkers who believed Jesus taught shared ownership. During the French Revolution, the far-left emerged as a more radical wing advocating for republics over monarchies.

In the 19th century, thinkers like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels developed Marxism, which called for workers to lead a revolution against capitalism. This period also saw the rise of anarchism, which opposed both capitalism and the state. These ideas spread widely, influencing many movements and revolutions.

The 20th century saw far-left ideas gain power in some places, like the Russian Revolution, which established a communist government. However, far-left politics also faced strong opposition, especially during the Cold War, when many countries opposed communist ideas. Despite challenges, far-left movements continued to influence social and political debates, especially around issues like workers' rights, equality, and opposition to war.

Far-left terrorism

Further information: Left-wing terrorism

The far left has sometimes included groups that used violence to try to change society. These groups believed that violence could help fight against unfair systems. Some of these groups formed secret organizations or started uprisings, especially in places where governments were weak. However, not everyone on the far left supports using violence; some argue that other actions, like protests, are more helpful.

During the 1960s to 1980s, several far-left groups formed in different countries, such as the Red Army Faction in Germany and the Weather Underground in the United States. Most of these groups are no longer active today. While some used violence, none succeeded in starting a revolution through these methods alone. Successful changes in places like Cuba often came from longer struggles involving many people.