Many people use these terms without truly understanding their meaning. Yet, the distinction between them is crucial for the survival of our democracies.
Conservatives are people who, by and large, appreciate their lives as they are. They recognize that society has problems that require government attention and reform — but they seek improvement, not destruction. Their goal is to refine and enrich life within the framework that already exists.
Radicals, on the other hand, believe that life as it stands is fundamentally wrong. They see revolution — peaceful or violent — as the only way to rebuild society and create a “better” world. For them, the current system is not to be repaired but replaced.
This is why radicals often see Islamists as allies rather than adversaries. Both share the belief that violent upheaval is justified to achieve their vision of change.
