Ten years after a Labour MP was murdered for her politics, and 50 years after schoolchildren were shot for protesting inequality, the forces that drive people toward hatred and violence are still at work. Jo Cox's sister, now an MP herself, says things are "worse than ever".
Political extremism is the active pursuit of extreme political goals, often through intimidation or violence. It can come from any part of the political spectrum. In the UK, far-right extremism has been a growing concern. Jo Cox was killed in 2016 by a far-right extremist as she held a constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire. In South Africa, the 1976 Soweto uprising saw thousands of black students protest against the apartheid regime's policy of teaching in Afrikaans; police opened fire, killing hundreds. Both events are stark reminders of what happens when political divisions are taken to extremes.
“Explains political extremism using the anniversaries of Jo Cox's murder and the Soweto uprising.”
Extremism flourishes in conditions of inequality, fear and social breakdown. In apartheid South Africa, institutionalised racism created a system that denied basic rights to the black majority, leading to a youth-led uprising. In modern Britain, economic insecurity, cultural anxieties and online echo chambers have fuelled a rise in far-right activity. After Jo Cox's murder, her family launched the "More In Common" campaign to promote unity. But 10 years on, Kim Leadbeater says: "At this moment things are worse than ever." Recent unrest in Belfast, Glasgow and Southampton shows that extremist violence is still a threat.
For UK readers, extremism matters because it erodes democracy, divides communities and endangers lives. MPs face abuse and attack; hate crimes spike after major events. The same forces that led to the Soweto uprising – state oppression and racial inequality – are not limited to South Africa. The anniversary is a global reminder that young people, in particular, can be mobilised for or against extremism. As Leadbeater puts it, we all have a choice about what to do with anger.
Q: What is far-right extremism? Far-right extremism is a form of political extremism that promotes nationalism, xenophobia and often white supremacy. It can include violence against immigrants, ethnic minorities and political opponents. Jo Cox was murdered by a neo-Nazi who held such beliefs.
Q: What happened during the Soweto uprising? On June 16, 1976, thousands of black students in Soweto, South Africa, protested against the introduction of Afrikaans as a compulsory language of instruction in schools. Police opened fire, killing at least 176 people, mostly children. The uprising became a turning point in the struggle against apartheid.
Q: How can extremism be countered? Countering extremism requires addressing its root causes: inequality, discrimination and lack of opportunity. Community engagement, education and promoting shared values – like the "More In Common" campaign – can help. Governments also need to tackle online radicalisation and protect democratic institutions.
What happens next is uncertain. South Africa's youth still face high unemployment and inequality. In the UK, Kim Leadbeater warns that we must not let anger push people "towards the extremes". The anniversaries are a call to remember what extremism costs and to choose a different path.