Understanding Activist Fundamentalism: Capitalist Crisis and the "Colonization of the Lifeworld"

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Abstract
The development of a politically active fundamentalism has been widely documented but has not received sufficient attention from critical theorists. The movement has had influence on political elites and political discourse although its grass roots support is problematic. “Revitalization” and “dedifferentiation” theories apply to movements with broad support which activist fundamentalism may not possess. Both theories are based on assumptions about the progressive nature of social evolution. An alternative analysis based on Jürgen Habermas's concepts of “legitimation crisis” and “colonization of the lifeworld” suggests that social movements such as activist fundamentalism arise in response to efforts to deal with contradictions within social systems and to struggles among the state, economy, family, and religion to control those efforts. New movements, on both the left and right, can be expected to emerge as these conflicts continue.

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