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Far left, also known as the revolutionary left, radical left and extreme left are terms which refer to the highest degree of leftist positions among left-wing politics. Ideologies and movements both historically and presently associated with the far-left include: anarchism, communism, and Jacobinism.
As left positions are generally characterized by greater support for egalitarianism, so the far left is at the limit of this with many or most such groupings advocating radical fundamental change, not mere superficial or incremental reforms in the direction of a classless society. What is considered far left varies however the basic distinction between right and left can be used to make an objective assessment in a particular real political spectrum relative to a particular political culture and time.
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In France, the term extrême-gauche ("far left") is a generally accepted term for political groups to the left of the French Communist Party (such as Trotskyists, anarchists, Maoists and New Leftist).[1]
The German political scientist Eckhard Jesse includes anarchists, different trends of communism (communists of pro-Soviet orientation, Maoists and Trotskyists) and the Autonome among the (German) far-left.[2]
Dr. Luke March of the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, defines the "Far-left" in Europe as those that place themselves to the left of social democracy, which they see as insufficiently left-wing. The two main sub-types are the so called "radical left", for their desire for fundamental change to the capitalist system while accepting of democracy, and the "extreme left" who are more hostile to liberal democracy and denounce any compromise with capitalism. March sees four major subgroups within contemporary European far-left politics: communists, democratic socialists, populist socialists and social populists.[3]
Hloušek and Kopeček add secondary characteristics to those identified by March and Mudde, such as anti-Americanism, anti-globalism, opposition to NATO and rejection of European integration[4]
McKlosky and Chong surveyed a number of militant, revolutionary far-left groups in the US and they argue that like far-right extremists they tend to show traits of authoritarianism.[5] McKlosky and Chong further assert that in the USA, the far-left groups they studied are deeply estranged from American society and highly critical of what they perceive as the spiritual and moral degeneration of American institutions, they view American society as dominated by conspiratorial forces that are working to defeat their ideological aims.[5]
In the USA, John George and Laird Wilcox have identified the Communist Party USA, Socialist Workers Party (United States), Black Panther Party, Students for a Democratic Society and Progressive Labor Party (United States) as some of the groups active on what he refers to as the "far-left".[6]
In Europe, Dr. Luke March classifies the following parties as far-left[3]:
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