“An original dimension to a classic yet always relevant paradox faced by liberal democracies: the degree to which the political system should show tolerance towards parties that appear intolerant to political or social pluralism. While empirical examples focus on extremist parties in Europe, the conceptual framework extends beyond these specific cases to both emerging and established democracies.”

Benjamin Bowyer, Civic Engagement Research Group, Mills College

A theoretically inspired and empirically rich study of political parties considered to be pariah parties, particularly relevant for Greece.

The instability in the far-right segment of the Greek political spectrum has confronted a parallel movement in the far-left segment, where the self-proclaimed anti-systemic Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) quickly rose to become the second largest party in the Greek parliament in 2012. The success of the Greek far-left, which emerged with its own anti-government, anti-European populism, prompts remarks that extremism may not be an exclusive characteristic of the right-wing fringes.

In contemporary Greece, therefore, we are presented with an opportunity to record and assess the strategic choices made by those striving to respond to the electoral success of forces that were once outside the party system. Observing the subsequent moves of Greece's political establishment is sure to be accompanied by heated debates and will provide comparative study specialists with new data to test theoretical knowledge regarding party and elite behavior under pressure.

Most importantly, it will offer new insights into the consequences – both intended and unintended – of alternative democratic efforts to combat organized forms of intolerance.

Through the translation of this book on political extremism in democracies into Greek, we hope to serve as a link between those focusing on rapid developments in Greece and the broader international research on one of the most painful paradoxes of democracy… namely, that created by the demand to tolerate intolerance.

Dr. William M. Downs (Ph.D, Emory University 1994) is the Dean of Harriot College at East Carolina University. His research and teaching interests include comparative politics, European politics, particularly that of Western and Southern Europe, and political economy.