Does the far right or far left commit more political violence
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Was this fact-check helpful?
1. Summary of the results
The analyses provided present conflicting views on whether the far right or far left commits more political violence. According to [1], right-wing extremist violence is more frequent and more deadly than left-wing violence, with most domestic terrorists in the U.S. being politically on the right [1]. Similarly, [2] notes that right-wing ideologies have fueled more than 70% of all extremist attacks and domestic terrorism plots in the US since 2002, citing the Anti-Defamation League [2]. In contrast, [3] suggests a rise in 'assassination culture' and political violence, particularly among the far-left, citing a study that found support for assassinations is higher among those who self-identify as 'left of center' [3]. However, [4] presents research comparing political violence by left-wing, right-wing, and Islamist extremists, finding that radical acts perpetrated by individuals associated with left-wing causes are less likely to be violent [4]. Overall, the majority of the analyses suggest that right-wing violence is more frequent and deadly, but there are also concerns about rising political violence from the far left [1] [2] [3].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
A key missing context in the original statement is the definition of political violence, which can encompass a wide range of actions, from vandalism to terrorism [1]. Additionally, the analyses often focus on the US context, with limited discussion of global trends in political violence [4]. Alternative viewpoints, such as the role of Islamist extremism in global political violence, are also mentioned in [4], highlighting the complexity of the issue. Furthermore, [5] and [5] note that both Democrats and Republicans have been targeted in recent attacks, suggesting that political violence is a bipartisan issue [5]. The analyses also highlight the need for nuanced and evidence-based discussions of political violence, rather than relying on simplistic or partisan narratives [6].
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original statement may be misleading or biased in its framing of the issue, as it implies a binary opposition between the far right and far left, when in fact the reality of political violence is more complex [1] [2]. The statement may also overlook the role of other factors, such as mental health, social media, or economic inequality, in contributing to political violence [4]. Additionally, the statement may be influenced by partisan agendas, with some sources citing studies or data that support a particular narrative, while others may be selectively presenting information to fit their ideological perspective [3]. Ultimately, a more nuanced and evidence-based approach is needed to understand the complex issue of political violence, and to develop effective strategies for preventing and addressing it [1] [2] [7].