Commentary
In constitutional democracies, where political life is supposed to be governed by persuasion rather than coercion, the accurate use of language is not just an academic exercise—it’s a civic obligation. Unfounded rhetorical branding corrodes the quality of democratic discourse.
Mainstream political pundits now rely on a form of labeling that functions less as an analytical tool and more as a partisan weapon. Few terms illustrate this more clearly than “far-right” or “fascist.” Once reasonably precise categories within political science, they have increasingly become common pejoratives. Their primary function is not to clarify positions but to shut down debate….