On the edge : political cults right and left / Dennish Tourish, Tim Wohlforth.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tourish, Dennis.

Contributor:

Wohlforth, Tim.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Radicalism.

Social movements.

Politics and culture.

Cults.

Physical Description:

xvi, 246 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Armonk, N.Y. : M.E. Sharpe, [2000]

Summary:

This is the first book to document the extent of political cults on both the right and left and explain their significance for mainstream political organizations. The authors outline the defining characteristics of cults in general, and analyze the degree to which a variety of well-known movements fall within the spectrum of cultic organizations. The book covers such individuals and groups as Lyndon LaRouche, Fred Newman, Ted Grant, Marlene Dixon, the Christian Identity movement, Posse Commitatus, Aryan Nation, militias, and the Freemen. It explores the ideological underpinnings that predispose cult followers to cultic practices, along with the measures cults use to suppress dissent, achieve intense conformity, and extract extraordinary levels of commitment.

Contents:

Part 1. The Nature of Cults 1

1. Cults in Politics 3

2. Groupthink, Big Brother, and Love Bombing 16

Part 2. Cults on the Right 35

3. Christian Identity: A Heritage of Hate 37

4. Soldiers of God 57

5. The Travels of Lyndon LaRouche 69

Part 3. Therapy Cults and Politics 83

6. Scientology, Maoism, and the Reevaluations of Harvey Jackins 85

7. Fred Newman: Lenin as Therapist 104

8. Synanon: Utopia as a Game 124

Part 4. Cults on the Left 143

9. Marlene Dixon's Little Army 145

10. Gerry Healy: Guru to a Star 156

11. The Lonely Passion of Ted Grant 173

12. The Many Faces of Gino Perente 189

Conclusion. Politics as Religion 203.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 223-240) and index.

ISBN:

0765606399

OCLC:

43434639