The allure of essentialism and extremist ideologies

Bibliographic Data

ID2186932
AuthorsJ Kurzwelly (0000-0002-0993-573X, University of the Free State, corresponding author), Hamid Fernana (University of the Free State), Muhammad Elvis Ngum (City of Cape Town)
Year2020
Volume43
Issue2
Pages107-118
Publication date2020-04-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnthropology Southern Africa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2332-3264 • E-ISSN: 2332-3256
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/23323256.2020.1759435
OpenAlexW3042538552
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited23

This paper examines different reasons that make essentialist thinking, and by extension extremist ideologies based on such logic, attractive to individuals. Drawing from theories of personal and social identities, we examine the benefits derived from adopting an essentialist and reductionist ideology: an increased sense of clarity and agency, ease of moral judgements and a simple interpretative framework and prescriptions for social life. We also show the consequences of being on the receiving end of essentialist and reductionist discrimination, and the challenges of escaping essentialism and recognising the multiplicity of self. Our theoretical reflection is based on the life story of Muhammad Elvis Ngum, a young Cameroonian migrant to South Africa who became radicalised in a neofundamentalist religious group

Agency (philosophy · Epistemology · Essentialism · Ideology · Political science · Politics · Reductionism · Social science · Sociology · Gender Studies · Law · Philosophy · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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