The term far-right refers to the relative position a group or person occupies within a political spectrum. Since, by definition, most people are not far from the center, the terms "far-right" and "far-left" are used to say that someone is an extremist, not in tune with the majority. "Far-right" is thus usually a pejorative term.
In other contexts -- particularly in the United States -- the term "far-right" may also be used to denote supporters of extreme laissez-fairecapitalism such as the libertarians. However, libertarians themselves reject this classification since they prefer a radically smaller and decentralized government, which is antithetical to the strong, centralized governments favored by most other groups labeled "far-right". Due to the confusion generated by simple left-right classification schemes, libertarians favor an alternative political classification scheme based on more than one dimension. See the eponymousNolan chart.
More generally, the term has been applied to any stream of political thought that rejects democracy in favour of some form of elite rule (including monarchy, plutocracy and theocracy).
Difficulties with definition
The imprecise use of the terms "left" and "right" in politics, and there being no absolute consensus as to what the "archetypes" of left and right are, has led to a number of disputes over the proper usage of "far-right" and "far-left" other than as general terms of derision.
The terms "far-left" and "far-right" are meant to describe two diametrically opposed extremes. However, there are a good number of arguably extremist groups and ideologies that don't fit in the traditional far-left and far-right categories, and some seem to fit in both.
A possible solution to this problem is the use of a political compass instead of the traditional flat-line method of describing political positions. There are a number of different two-axis political models that were created for this reason, and they are discussed in detail in the article on the political spectrum.
Current parties generally referred to as far-right
Far right, extremeright, ultra-right, radical right, or hard right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or relative position a group or person occupies within a political spectrum.
The terms "far right" and "far left" are often used to say that someone is an "extremist." "Far right" is thus usually a pejorative term used by outsiders rather than a self-label.
The far right has often been associated in various degrees with paleoconservatism, social, cultural and religious conservatism, reactionarymonarchism, reactionary nationalism, jingoistic chauvinism, populism, economic protectionism or economic free trade, anti-immigration or racist and xenophobic policies, but the usage varies greatly.
In politics, right-wing, the political right or simply the right, are terms that refer to the segment of the political spectrum often associated with any of several strains of conservatism, the religious right, or simply the opposite of left-wing politics.
Some consider the political Right to include those forms of liberalism that emphasize the free market more than egalitarianism in wealth, but many free-market advocates, including most libertarians, share certain political ideologies with the left-wing and conceive of a two-dimensional political spectrum that they say more accurately portrays their political position.
A more obscure strand of right wing thought, often associated with the original right wing from the times of monarchy, supports the preservation of wealth and power in the hands that have traditionally held them, social stability, and national solidarity and ambition.
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