Centrism

Reading this by Stewart Wood left me feeling extremely irritated by yet another attack on Centrism. The article is supposed to be an attempt to show that Centrism led to populist extremism, but is itself attempting to grab some of that populism for itself without really thinking things through.


By definition Centrism is a rejection of extremes. It is a rejection of fundamentalism, a recognition that there is no one true way, because different people have different priorities and goals. Centrism is about trying to balance these varying priorities and goals.

Wood actually gets to core of how more extreme views have gained a voice but he doesn’t quite realise it. Firstly step back a bit, Wood defines New Labour and Cameron as centrist, and you soon realise that they are currently undefeated in the General Election. It’s possible to argue that May is taking Conservative economic policy to the left of her predecessor, is that less centrist?

The mistake that has been made by Centrists, and that Wood describes, was the narrowing. The Centrists narrowed their message and policies, as a result of trying to maintain control of both. They also narrowed their diversity leading to less creativity in thought and less understanding of the priorities and goals of the electorate.

The ever simpler messages that we became used to are exactly what the extremists have taken on, with ever greater power. Fundamentalists are always clearer, by definition they have less doubt. It is this narrowing that was the start of simplistic populism now finding life in political extremes.

I don’t know how to counter the simplicity of the extremists, but I do know that only a centrist approach can unite. Failing to acknowledge that compromise is essential will only lead to further division.

With current ease of communication, and mis-communication, there is a risk that the opportunity for complex messages is lost forever. This might make a rise in simplistic extremism inevitable, I hope not, but I’m clear that attacking centrism is wrong.