Far left or far right ends in fascism

Last week, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led the charge in Parliament to expel the Israeli ambassador from South African soil, before he was dramatically “recalled for consultation” by the Israeli government. EFF Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema spilled hateful invective about “Zionists” from the benches of the National Assembly. The EFF is a party considered to be on the radical far left of South African politics. Its regular calls for “expropriation without compensation” to accelerate land reform and “radical economic transformation” find resonance in the left-leaning elements of the African National Congress (ANC). The EFF pressurises the ANC to take ever more extreme positions. But the tactics adopted by the EFF are those of right-wing fascists – thuggish and brutish bullying, including in Parliament; targeting and ransacking businesses that the EFF doesn’t agree with, including Jewish-owned firms like Cape Union Mart; and generally showing violent intolerance for differing views. So, do the terms “left” and “right” still hold meaning in this rapidly changing world?

These terms made their first appearance in 1789 during the French Revolution. Supporters of the revolution sat to the left of the president of the National Assembly, and those supporting the monarchical old order (ancien regime) were seated to his right. One legislator, the Baron de Gauville, said, “We began to recognise each other: those who were loyal to religion and the king took up positions to the right of the chair so as to avoid the shouts, oaths, and indecencies that enjoyed free rein in the opposing camp.” Views considered “liberal” lie to the left, those considered “conservative” lie to the right – although most would agree that politicians simply lie to everyone!

According to international-relations scholar Andrew Heywood, the left wing is characterised by an emphasis on “ideas such as freedom, equality, fraternity, rights, progress, reform, and internationalism” while the right-wing is characterised by an emphasis on “notions such as authority, hierarchy, order, duty, tradition, reaction, and nationalism”. Anarchists, communists, and socialists are on the left; conservatives, monarchists, and fascists are on the right. There are nuances, of course, with parties in the middle described as “centre left” or “centre right” according to their ideological positions.

As seen by the example of the EFF, it’s not so simple anymore. The ideology can be decidedly leftist, while the tactics are those of the authoritarian right. And the other way around too.

Often those on the extremes of the political spectrum – far left and far right – have more in common with one another than the more moderate parties in the centre.

That’s certainly the case with antisemitism, where neo-Nazis on the far right find common cause with neo-Marxists on the far left when it comes to hating Jews and the Jewish state of Israel.

The current conflict between Hamas and Israel following the heinous attack on Israel on 7 October and Israel’s relentless raids on Gaza has had far-reaching repercussions. We’ve witnessed an exponential rise in antisemitic incidents around the world, from both the left and the right. Relations between Muslims and Jews have been especially inflamed, including in South Africa. Anti-Israel demonstrations easily and quickly slip into antisemitic rants. Protesters tear down Israeli flags and provocatively direct their anger at Jewish businesses, communal buildings, and the American and Israeli embassies. They spray-paint swastikas and evoke Hitler on social media when they aren’t accusing Jews of being Nazis themselves. The attacks on Jews and the Jewish state are flying in from all sides.

It’s pretty hard to tell your left from your right these days.

• Steven Gruzd is a political analyst in Johannesburg. He writes in his personal capacity.