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University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 A Xerox Education Company 7 2 -1 8 ,0 9 7 RELYEA, Harold C., 1944- ANTI-EXTREMISM AND IDEOLOGY: A STUDY OF MEMBERSHIP ATTITUDES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, A NON­ PARTISAN, NON-SECTARIAN, ANTI-EXTREMIST ORGANIZATION. The American University, Ph.D., 1971 Political Science, general University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan © 1972 HAROLD C . RELYEA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ANTI-EXTREMISM AND IDEOLOGY: A STUDY OF MEMBERSHIP ATTITUDES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, A NON-PARTISAN, NON-SECTARIAN, ANTI-EXTREMIST ORGANIZATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy: Government Harold C. Relyea December, 1971 Accepted: iL o -ii >-rf Committee Chairman. Date:_ CX. THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY FEB 7 1 9 7 2 PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. University Microfilms, A Xerox Education Company ANTI-EXTREMISM AND IDEOLOGY: A STUDY OF MEMBERSHIP ATTITUDES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, A NON-PARTISAN, NON-SECTARIAN, ANTI-EXTREMIST ORGANIZATION ABSTRACT Replicating, in part, an earlier study by Harry Scoble on the National Committee for an Effective Congress, this research focuses upon another interest group in American politics which, like NCEC, provides a means for the individual to extend his nonvoting political activities and to unite with anonymous but relevant others in a common cause. The Institute for American Democracy, a non-partisan, non­ sectarian, anti-extremist organization, bases its activities on the defense of American democracy against the threatening behavior of the ideological fringes of the ultra left and the ultra right. This study examines, by a survey of Institute members, the attitudes and characteristics of these individuals with a view toward ascertaining their agreement with Institute ideology. These members evidenced an above average degree of political participation, rejected anti­ democratic means to preserve democratic practices endangered by extremists, and held social-psychological attitudes and religio- racial backgrounds which were in harmony with the non-partisan, non-sectarian, anti-extremist position of the Institute. As suggested by Scoble's research, an attempt was also made to refute the classical Marxist view of ideology as a dependent variable determined by class. While IAD members were found to be in harmony with the Institute's ideology, they did not hold any particular common demographic characteristics, whether age, education, or class (income level). It was generally concluded that the operations and activities of organizations like NCEC and IAD necessitate some new formulation of the concept of an interest group and that future research in this area should focus upon the relationship of ideology and group interest. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. PRO-DEMOCRATIC GROUPS IN AMERICA................................ I Defending Democracy .................................................................... 2 Perception of Democracy........................................................ 3 Social Movement to Formal Organization .......................... 9 The Sectarian Bias .................................................................... 12 Group Politics and Ideology .......................................................... 15 Biases and the Group Approach ............................................. 15 Refining the Group Approach ................................................. 18 Ideology and the Group Approach ......................................... 21 Non-Sectarian Ideological Groups ....................................... 28 Ideology and the Institute for American Democracy 31 II. METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH............................................... 34 Continuity and Discovery .............................................................. 36 Expertise and Enem ies.......................................................... 37 Political Participation Considered .................................... 40 Social Characteristics Considered .................................... 47 Attitudes Considered .............................................................. 49 Ideological Cohesion Considered ......................................... 53 Comparison and Evaluation ........................................................ 54 Nature of Comparisons .......................................................... 55 Attitudes and Extremism...................................................... 58 CHAPTER PAGE Recognizing "Zealousy" ...................................................... 63 Selecting the Institute for American Democracy ............. 64 Questionnaire Structure ...................................................... 66 Attitude Scores ....................................................................... 68 Sample and Response ................................................................ 69 Problematics ............................................................................... 72 III. CHARACTERISTICS AND ATTITUDES OF ANTI­ EXTREMISTS............................................................................... 78 General Characteristics of IAD Members .......................... 78 Identifying Bias ..................................................................... 79 Identifying Extremism ........................................................ 84 Demographic Characteristics ................................................. 86 Incidence of First Generation Americans ...................... 88 Sexual Identification ............................................................ 91 Religious Identification ........................................................ 91 Age Identification ................................................................... 97 Educational Identification ................................................... 98 Occupational Identification ................................................. 102 Income Identification ............................................................ 105 Political A ctivitie ..................................................................... 114 Political Partisanship .......................................................... 114 Political Participation .......................................................... 117 CHAPTER PAGE Social Characteristics and Sectarianism ............................... 120 Racial Sectarianism ................................................................ 121 Religious Sectarianism ...................................................... 125 Political and Social Attitudes of IAD Members ............... 127 Incidence of Misanthropy ................................................... 129 Incidence of Dogmatism ...................................................... 130 Incidence of Authoritarianism ........................................... 131 Incidence of "Zealousy" ...................................................... 132 Ideology and C lass ................................................................... 134 VI. CONCLUSIONS..................................................................................... 138 Implications for Interest Group Theory .............................. 143 Implications for Democracy ................................................... 146 The Future of the Anti-Extremist Organization .................... 149 BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................................................................. 154 APPENDIX 1...................................................................................................