Shattered Reflections: Confronting the chaos of Modern Extremism

In a recent conversation, I found myself confronted by a deeply unsettling phenomenon—an undeniable resurgence of Holocaust denialism. It is a topic that, by all rights, should be a settled matter in the annals of history, but here we are, witnessing its ugly head re-emerge in the most insidious ways. What alarmed me even more was the realisation that the individuals perpetuating this ideology were not what one might typically label as hardcore extremists or radical ideologists. Instead, many appeared confused, distrusting of every institution, and, paradoxically, seeking meaning by clinging to dangerous falsehoods.

| It brings to mind Popper’s paradox of tolerance

It appears that this resurgence is intrinsically linked with other geopolitical crises, particularly the Israel-Palestine conflict, itself enmeshed with broader historical legacies and alliances stretching back decades. What I once saw as a fringe element now seems to have infiltrated the mainstream consciousness of some, riding on the back of wider disillusionment with liberalism and institutional authority. It brings to mind Popper’s paradox of tolerance—the challenge liberal societies face when they extend tolerance even to the intolerant. In seeking inclusivity, has the contemporary left inadvertently become blind to the creeping influence of regressive ideologies such as political Islamism, which thrives in the shadows of ambiguity?

I cannot help but observe how new echo chambers have solidified. The internet—a technological marvel meant to democratise information and foster understanding—has instead become a fertile breeding ground for conspiratorial thinking and extremist narratives. Platforms like YouTube, controlled by algorithms tailored to hold attention at any cost, create bubbles so tight that genuine discourse has become almost impossible. The tragedy is that those ensnared rarely recognise how profoundly influenced they have become. The "inception experiment" of our times has succeeded beyond its architects’ wildest dreams, embedding misinformation so deeply that unravelling it seems a Herculean task.

Where does one even begin to counteract such corrosive groupthink? My instinct is to turn towards engagement—real, meaningful one-on-one conversations that challenge entrenched beliefs. Yet, this approach is painfully slow and easily outpaced by the viral spread of hate-filled propaganda. The question of scaling meaningful engagement looms large. Without it, history suggests that ideological conflicts left unresolved often culminate in violence—a point raised during my conversation that left me sighing, deeply troubled. The thought of a future rife with strife is hardly palatable, but the trajectory seems difficult to deny.

"The Great Regression"

There is, however, a faint glimmer of hope amidst the darkness: the awareness of our predicament. I recently coined the term "The Great Regression" to describe our collective inability to navigate the complexities of information overload and the relentless bombardment of social media. Perhaps this regression mirrors the rise of mass media in the early 20th century, which, as many historians have pointed out, helped sow the seeds of social upheaval. Now, in the age of "social" (a term that often feels hollow) media, we find ourselves grappling with a disturbingly familiar pattern.

If we are to navigate the next decade, fraught as it may be with both difficulty and opportunity, it will require a courageous rethinking of how we communicate, how we foster dialogue, and how we confront intolerant ideologies without compromising our core values. The stakes could not be higher, but neither is our resolve. Engagement—no matter how slow—must be our rallying cry. And perhaps, together, we can rediscover what it means to think freely, critically, and compassionately in a fractured world.