What is the criteria for determining violence in right wing and left wing

Checked on September 20, 2025
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1. Summary of the results

The criteria for determining violence in right-wing and left-wing ideologies is a complex and subjective issue, with varying definitions used by different agencies and researchers [1]. According to the European Commission, violent right-wing extremism includes acts of violence and hatred motivated by ideologies based on the rejection of democratic order and values, as well as exclusionary nationalism, racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance [2]. In contrast, research suggests that most domestic terrorists in the US are politically on the right, and right-wing attacks account for the vast majority of fatalities from domestic terrorism [3]. The UN Secretary-General's report also highlights the growing concern of terrorist attacks motivated by far-right or extreme right-wing ideology [4]. Additionally, polling data shows that Americans are concerned about political violence, with 87% saying it is a problem, and 59% considering it a very big problem [5]. The recent surge in political violence in the US has been fueled by polarization, anger, and conspiracy theories, with social media playing a role in amplifying extreme voices and facilitating the spread of violent rhetoric [6]. Experts emphasize the need for civil dialogue and healthy political discourse in the face of rising political violence [7] [8].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key missing context in the original statement is the historical context of political violence in the US, which is highlighted in the analysis by the Ash Center [8]. Another missing context is the role of social media in amplifying extreme voices and facilitating the spread of violent rhetoric, as discussed in the analysis by [6]. Alternative viewpoints include the perspective that left-wing violence is on the rise, which is challenged by research suggesting that most domestic terrorists in the US are politically on the right [3]. The analysis by [1] also highlights the subjective nature of assessing political violence, which can lead to varying definitions and interpretations. Furthermore, the analysis by [7] emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities for constructive conversation and the challenges of translating the basics of free expression and civil dialogue to the social media age.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be biased towards a particular ideology, as it does not provide a clear definition of violence in right-wing and left-wing ideologies [2] [1]. The statement may also overlook the complexity of the issue, as the criteria for determining violence in right-wing and left-wing ideologies is a complex and subjective issue [1]. Additionally, the statement may lack context, as it does not consider the historical context of political violence in the US or the role of social media in amplifying extreme voices [6] [8]. The analysis by [3] and [3] suggests that right-wing extremist violence is more frequent and more deadly than left-wing violence, which may be a missing context in the original statement. Overall, the original statement may benefit from a more nuanced and balanced approach, considering multiple viewpoints and contexts [2] [1] [6].

Want to dive deeper?
How do law enforcement agencies differentiate between right-wing and left-wing violence?
What role does ideology play in determining violence in political movements?
Can social media platforms effectively monitor and report violent rhetoric from right-wing and left-wing groups?
How have historical events, such as the 2021 US Capitol attack, influenced the criteria for determining political violence?
What are the key differences in violence criteria between domestic and international terrorism?