Editing Radical centrism (section)

== Criticism ==
Even before the 21st century, some observers were criticizing what they saw as radical centrism. In the 1960s, liberal political cartoonist [[Jules Feiffer]] employed the term "radical middle" to mock what he saw as the timid and pretentious outlook of the American political class.<ref>Feiffer, Jules (21 January 1962). "[https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96523650 We've All Heard of the Radical Right and the Radical Left ... ]". Library of Congress website. Retrieved 1 February 2013.</ref><ref>Feiffer, Jules (2010). ''Backing into Forward: A Memoir''. Nan A. Talese / Doubleday, p. 345. {{ISBN|978-0-385-53158-0}}.</ref>{{#tag:ref|According to journalist [[John Judis]], sociologist [[Seymour Martin Lipset]] used the term "radical centrism" in his book ''Political Man'' (1960) to help explain European fascism.<ref name=Judis>Judis, John (16 October 1995). "TRB from Washington: Off Center". ''The New Republic'', vol. 213, no. 16, pp. 4 and 56.</ref>|group="nb"}} During the [[Ross Perot presidential campaign, 1992|Ross Perot presidential campaign of 1992]], conservative journalist [[William Safire]] suggested that a more appropriate term for the radical center might be the "snarling center".<ref name=Safire/> In a 1998 article entitled "The Radical Centre: A Politics Without Adversary", Belgian political theorist [[Chantal Mouffe]] argued that passionate and often bitter conflict between left and right is a necessary feature of any democracy.<ref>Mouffe, Chantal (summer 1998). "The Radical Centre: A Politics Without Adversary". ''Soundings'', issue no. 9, pp. 11–23.</ref>{{#tag:ref|Mouffe also criticized radical centrism for its "New Age rhetorical flourish".<ref>Mouffe (summer 1998), p. 12.</ref>|group="nb"}}

=== Objections to policies, assumptions and attitudes ===
[[File:Robert Kuttner - Flickr image 3444876149.jpg|thumb|Liberal journalist [[Robert Kuttner]], a notable critic of radical centrism<ref name=Kuttner/>]]
Some 21st-century commentators argue that radical centrist policies are not substantially different from conventional centrist ideas.<ref name=Marx /><ref name=Kilgore>Kilgore, Ed (June 2004). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20240614101016/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Good+government%3A+time+to+stop+bashing+the+two-party+system-a0119444637 Good Government: Time to Stop Bashing the Two-Party System]". ''The Washington Monthly'', pp. 58–59.</ref> For example, US liberal journalist [[Robert Kuttner]] says there already is a radical centrist party –"It's called the Democrats".<ref name=Kuttner>Kuttner, Robert (19 February 2012). "[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-kuttner/americans-elect-third-party_b_1288110.html The Radical Center we Don't Need]". ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved 6 February 2013.</ref> He faults [[Matthew Miller (journalist)|Matthew Miller]]'s version of radical centrism for offering "feeble" policy solutions and indulging in wishful thinking about the motives of the political right.<ref>Kuttner, Robert (20 November 2003). "[https://prospect.org/article/2-percent-illusion The 2-Percent Illusion]". ''[[The American Prospect]]''. Retrieved 30 January 2018.</ref> Progressive social theorist [[Richard Kahlenberg]] says that [[Ted Halstead]] and [[Michael Lind]]'s book ''The Radical Center'' is too skeptical about the virtues of labor unions and too ardent about the virtues of the market.<ref name=Kahlenberg>Kahlenberg, Richard (19 December 2001). "[http://prospect.org/article/radical-center Radical in the Center]". ''American Prospect'', vol. 12, no. 21, p.&nbsp;41. Print version d. 3 December 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2013.</ref>

Others contend that radical centrist policies lack clarity. For example, in 2001 journalist [[Eric Alterman]] said that the [[New America Foundation]] think tank was neither liberal nor progressive and did not know what it was.<ref name=Morin/>

''[[Politico]]'' reports that some think Spain's radical centrist [[Citizens (Spanish political party)|Ciudadanos]] (Citizens) party is "encouraged by the Spanish establishment" to undercut the radical left and preserve the status quo.<ref name=Brown/>

[[File:Thomas Friedman 2005 (5).jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Thomas Friedman]]'s columns supporting radical centrism are a favorite target for bloggers<ref name=Marx/>]]
By contrast, some observers claim that radical centrist ideas are too different from mainstream policies to be viable. [[Sam Tanenhaus]], the editor of ''[[The New York Times Book Review]]'', called the proposals in Halstead and Lind's book "utopian".<ref name=Tanenhaus/> According to Ed Kilgore, the policy director of the [[Democratic Leadership Council]], [[Mark Satin]]'s ''Radical Middle'' book "ultimately places him in the sturdy tradition of 'idealistic' American reformers who think smart and principled people unencumbered by political constraints can change everything".<ref name=Kilgore/>

Some have suggested that radical centrists may be making false assumptions about their effectiveness or appeal. In the United States, for example, political analyst [[James Joyner]] found that states adopting [[non-partisan]] [[redistricting commission]]s, a favorite radical-centrist proposal, have been no more fiscally responsible than states without such commissions.<ref>Joyner, James (24 March 2010). [http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/radical_center/ "Radical Center: Friedman's Fantasy"]. ''Outside the Beltway''. Retrieved 30 April 2013</ref> In 2017, ''[[The Economist]]'' wondered whether Latin Americans really wanted to hear the "hard truths" about their societies that some radical centrists were offering them.<ref name=Bello />

Radical centrist attitudes have also been criticized. For example, many bloggers have characterized [[Thomas Friedman]]'s columns on radical centrism as elitist and glib.<ref name=Marx/> In Australia, some think that Australian attorney [[Noel Pearson]] – long an advocate of radical centrism – is in fact a "polarizing partisan".<ref>Curchin, Katherine (December 2015). "Noel Pearson's Role in the Northern Territory Intervention: Radical Centrist or Polarising Partisan?" ''[[Australian Journal of Politics and History]]'', vol. 61, no. 4, pp.&nbsp;576–590.</ref> In 2012, conservative [[Knesset]] member [[Tzipi Hotovely]] criticized Israel's radical center for lacking such attributes as courage, decisiveness, and realistic thinking.<ref name=Hotovely />

=== Objections to strategies ===
[[File:Ramesh Ponnuru at U.S. embassy in Vienna.jpg|thumb|upright|Conservative journalist [[Ramesh Ponnuru]], who has criticized radical centrist strategy<ref name=Ponnuru/>]]
Some observers question the wisdom of seeking consensus, [[Postpartisan|post-partisanship]] or reconciliation in political life.<ref name=Marx/> Political scientist Jonathan Bernstein argues that American democratic theory from the time of [[James Madison]]'s [[Federalist No. 10]] (1787) has been based on the acknowledgement of faction and the airing of debate, and he sees no reason to change now.<ref name=Marx/>

Other observers feel radical centrists are misreading the political situation. For example, conservative journalist [[Ramesh Ponnuru]] says liberals and conservatives are not ideologically opposed to such radical centrist measures as limiting entitlements and raising taxes to cover national expenditures. Instead, voters are opposed to them and things will change when voters can be convinced otherwise.<ref name=Ponnuru>Ponnuru, Ramesh (24 March 2010). "[http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/196853/thomas-friedmans-radical-confusion-ramesh-ponnuru The Corner: Tom Friedman's Radical Confusion]". ''National Review Online''. Retrieved 18 January 2016.</ref>

The third-party strategy favored by many U.S. radical centrists has been criticized as impractical and diversionary. According to these critics, what is needed instead is (a) reform of the legislative process; and (b) candidates in existing political parties who will support radical centrist ideas.<ref name=Marx /> The specific third-party vehicle favored by many U.S. radical centrists in 2012 – [[Americans Elect]]<ref name=MacGillis>MacGillis, Alec (26 October 2011). "[https://newrepublic.com/article/politics/magazine/96730/third-party-americans-elect Third Wheel]". ''The New Republic'', vol. 242, no. 17, p.&nbsp;8. Print version d. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2013.</ref> – was criticized as an "elite-driven party"<ref name=Marx /> supported by a "dubious group of Wall Street multi-millionaires".<ref name=Kuttner />

After spending time with a variety of radical centrists, Alec MacGillis of ''[[The New Republic]]'' concluded that their perspectives are so disparate that they could never come together to build a viable political organization.<ref>MacGillis, Alec (2 November 2011). "[https://newrepublic.com/blog/the-stump/96993/beware-radical-centrists-the-march Beware: 'Radical Centrists' On the March!]". ''The New Republic'' online. Retrieved 5 February 2011.</ref>

=== Internal concerns ===
Some radical centrists are less than sanguine about their future. One concern is co-optation. For example, [[Michael Lind]] worries that the enthusiasm for the term radical center, on the part of "arbiters of the conventional wisdom", may signal a weakening of the radical vision implied by the term.<ref name=Lind/>

Another concern is passion. [[John Avlon]] fears that some centrists cannot resist the lure of passionate partisans, whom he calls "[[Wingnut (politics)|wingnuts]]".<ref>Avlon, John (2010). ''Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America''. Beast Books / Perseus Books Group, pp. 1–3 and 238–39. {{ISBN|978-0-9842951-1-1}}.</ref> By contrast, [[Mark Satin]] worries that radical centrism, while "thoroughly sensible", lacks an "animating passion" – and claims there has never been a successful political movement without one.<ref>Satin, Mark (fall 2002). "[http://www2.gwu.edu/~ccps/rcq/issues/12-4.pdf Where's the Juice?]". ''The Responsive Community'', vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 74–75. Retrieved 5 February 2013.</ref>