What can we learn from the political and military confrontations shaping our world today? At the core of every conflict lies a contradiction, a clash. But why do these contradictions so often escalate into extreme confrontations instead of being resolved through natural dialogue or compromise? Has extremism become the language of our time?
The modern world appears increasingly primed for various shades of extremism—each one sparking a reactionary counterpart. Across continents, we are witnessing the rise of extreme political rhetoric, now turned into electoral strategies that propel candidates to power. Once unimaginable, far-right movements and ideologies, thought to be defeated after World War II, are gaining ground again. Their rise begs the question: how did we return here?
A key turning point may have been the US-led “War on Terror” in the early 2000s. Meant to eliminate extremism, it arguably did the opposite. Instead of defeating terrorism, it multiplied its forms. The invasion of Iraq, in particular, created fertile ground for extremist groups, who then spread across the region. These wars, launched under the guise of fighting terror, inadvertently legitimised extremism while destabilising entire nations.
Noam Chomsky warned of this in 2001, predicting that the world was entering an era of terrorism. That prediction proved chillingly accurate. Waves of bombings and violence have swept through both Western and Arab cities, pushing societies toward polarisation and legitimising reactionary extremism in the name of security and nationalism.
The world has become a battleground in the eyes of extremists, where people are either "with us" or "against us." This binary mindset fuels endless cycles of violence, driven by hate and justified through twisted logic. Extremism offers its followers a dangerous illusion of legitimacy—encouraging destruction, revenge, and the demonisation of the other. It thrives by provoking its counterparts into action, thereby creating a loop of mutual annihilation.
Yet extremism doesn’t stem from ordinary people. It is imposed—by regimes, by elites, by those seeking power and dominance. It forces people into impossible choices: either be the killer or be the killed. In the process, entire countries are devastated, urban life collapses, and natural human instincts toward peace are manipulated and redirected toward war.
Extremism sells war as a path to glory, but in truth, it is a mechanism for theft—of resources, land, heritage. It is not victory; it is a violation masked as a right. Nothing inflames extremism like the outbreak of war, which ignites fear and violence even in the hearts of the moderate. Extremists capitalise on war to pull everyone into battle, leaving only two options: fight or surrender with humiliation.
And yet, extremists are rarely aware of their blindness. Too consumed by their own battles, they fail to see how they are being used. Their obsession with fire and fury makes them ideal tools for those who know how to exploit chaos. In today's digital age, extremism has even become a commodity—a tool for manipulation by those who control the technology and algorithms behind the screens. It is marketed, distributed, and embedded in the very devices we carry.
In this world of algorithms and anger, extremism isn’t just a threat—it’s a product. It promises purpose but delivers destruction. It is, as always, a path not to victory, but to ruin.
Translated by Badr al Dhafari
The original version of this article was published in Oman Arabic newspaper on April 06, 2025.
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