Syncretic politics involve taking political positions that attempt to reconcile seemingly opposed ideological systems, usually by combining some elements associated with the left with some associated with the right. The term is derived from the older idea of syncretic religion.

Syncretic movements

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Noted syncretic movements include Fascism, Libertarianism and Producerism. Many lesser-known political syncretisms also exist; Good examples include the People's Mujahedin of Iran, which combines Marxism and Islamism, and the National Bolshevik Party of Russia, formed from the unlikely union of Leninist and Fascist aesthetics.

The assassinated Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn and his LPF party are often mentioned as being syncretic, especially by commentators outside the Netherlands, since the LPF combined acceptance of soft drug use and equal rights for homosexuals, seen as rather radical left-liberal positions in most of the world, with a strong stance against immigration, which is usually a right-wing sentiment. Others have categorized the LPF as reactionary liberal and deny its platform constitutes syncretic politics.

Relation to centrism

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Syncretic political movements and Centrism should not be confused. Although both see their mission as eventual reconciliation, Centrism attempts to take moderate elements from opposing sides and combine them into a stabilizing, moderate political force to preserve the harmony of an existing order that is under threat from partisanship.

Syncretist organizations, on the other hand, are usually involved in the construction of a new ideology from the most extreme beliefs of antagonistic movements and see themselves as revolutionary and radical threats to the status quo.

However, confusing the distinction, some have attempted to achieve centrist goals (i.e. modest health-care reform) using radical methods such as destroying the American two-party system. (see radical middle)

See also

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• Dialectic
• Political spectrum
• World's Smallest Political Quiz

Examples of possibly syncretic groups and ideologies

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• Conservative Revolutionary movement
• Consistent Life Ethic
• Fascism
• Fascism and ideology
• Fascism as an international phenomenon
• Hardline
• International Third Position
• Italian fascism
• Jagged Edge (movement)
• Libertarianism
• List Pim Fortuyn
• National Bolshevism
• National anarchism
• National syndicalism
• Neo-Tribalism
• People's Mujahedin of Iran
• Producerism
• Radical middle
• Straight edge

External links

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• The Politics of Pim