radicalism
Advocacy for upheaval
Radicalism is the pursuit of fundamental change to political, social, or economic systems—going to the root rather than treating symptoms.
The term is relative: what counts as radical depends on the status quo.
Radicalism can describe movements across the political spectrum, from revolutionary socialism to libertarian anarchism.
Her radicalism alienated moderate allies.
The party's radicalism softened as it gained mainstream support.
Structured belief framework
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- leftismPolitics favoring redistribution, equality
- MarxismClass-based revolutionary philosophy
- anarchismPhilosophy rejecting state authority
socialism · communism · progressivism · populism · feminism · nationalism · libertarianism · egalitarianism
Obsessive, unreasoning dedication
- zealotryExcessive devotion to beliefs
- dogmatismUnyielding adherence to doctrine
- intoleranceUnwillingness to accept differences
- militancyCombative advocacy stance
hardliner · fundamentalism · sectarianism · ultraism · absolutism · terrorism · jihadism · extremist
Public expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- civil disobediencePeaceful refusal to obey
- direct actionConfrontational political tactics
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
boycott · sit-in · strike · rally · march · picketing · blockade · occupation
Thorough change in form
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- overhaulComplete systematic repair
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- restructuringRearranging an existing framework
abolition · systemic change · root-and-branch · progressive · modernization · redistribution · emancipation · liberation
Rejection of prevailing norms
- bohemianArtistic nonconformist type
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
- hippieSixties counterculture member
punk · rebel · dissent · freethinking · alternative · anti-establishment · underground · iconoclasm
Seeking fundamental systemic change
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- disruptiveTending to interrupt order
visionary · unconventional · cutting-edge · paradigm shift · bold · unorthodox · experimental · avant-garde
ideology
Structured belief framework
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- leftismPolitics favoring redistribution, equality
- MarxismClass-based revolutionary philosophy
anarchism · socialism · communism · progressivism · populism · feminism · nationalism · libertarianism · egalitarianism · anti-establishment
fanaticism
Obsessive, unreasoning dedication
- zealotryExcessive devotion to beliefs
- dogmatismUnyielding adherence to doctrine
- intoleranceUnwillingness to accept differences
militancy · hardliner · fundamentalism · sectarianism · ultraism · absolutism · terrorism · jihadism · extremist · ideologue
protest
Public expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- civil disobediencePeaceful refusal to obey
- direct actionConfrontational political tactics
grassroots · boycott · sit-in · strike · rally · march · picketing · blockade · occupation · advocacy
transformation
Thorough change in form
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- overhaulComplete systematic repair
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
restructuring · abolition · systemic change · root-and-branch · progressive · modernization · redistribution · emancipation · liberation · reorganization
nonconformity
Rejection of prevailing norms
- bohemianArtistic nonconformist type
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
hippie · punk · rebel · dissent · freethinking · alternative · anti-establishment · underground · iconoclasm · dropout
revolutionary
Seeking fundamental systemic change
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- trailblazingBeing the first through
disruptive · visionary · unconventional · cutting-edge · paradigm shift · bold · unorthodox · experimental · avant-garde · breakthrough
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- resistanceresistance, defiance, resistance fighters, civil resistance, resist
- British PoliticsHouse of Commons, Westminster, Whigs, Tories, Commons
- French RevolutionBastille, guillotine, Robespierre, French Revolution, Marie Antoinette
- political ideologiesconservatism, conservative, anarchism, liberalism, liberal
- political philosophypolitical philosophy, political theory, political thought, social contract, natural rights
radicalismconservatism
Preference for existing institutions
traditionalism · reactionism · status quo · establishmentarianism · preservationism
radicalismincrementalism
Change through small steps
gradualism · reformism · moderation · pragmatism · evolutionary change
radicalismmoderation
Avoidance of excess
centrism · pragmatism · middle-of-the-road · conventionality · conformism
- political radicalismAdvocacy for drastic reform
deradicalization, radicalize, radicalization, radicalizing, radicalized, radicalizes, deradicalize, radicalizations, deradicalized