What are reactionaries?

"Reactionaries" are simply a group of people who react to some political issue or event.


Reactionaries are extreme far rightists who tend to believe in social hierarchy and the superiority of earlier social values. They tend to blame the marginalized for society's problems, and espouse the undesirability of even the most limited mandated social justice and the inherent supremacy of members of their own group (nation, faith, race).

In the US, this would include Neo Nazis, the KKK, right wing anti government militias, and theocratic militias. Some would go further and say that it includes groups like Focus on the Family and the Tea Parties, but I think that is stretching the definition of reactionary, which implies extremism as opposed to conservatism which is more moderate.