Concerning the classification of extremism

This article presents such a complex phenomenon as extremism. This phenomenon is widely explored in modern science that is directly connected with the processes occurring in a number of countries and regions in the world. In the public mind, this term has a political and religious interpretation, and besides, a negative connotation. To some extent, the contribution is made by the consolidation of the notion as a matter of law in different legal instruments that are either domestic or international ones. The author considers that this connotation does not fully reflect the entire ambiguity of the phenomenon under review because being the result of evolutionary human development, extremism has long been present in many sectors of society. Accordingly, the author suggests supplementing the classification of extremism with the new kinds and forms based on the extended differentiation and hierarchization criteria.