Editing Nihilism (section)

=== Political nihilism ===
{{Anchor|Political|Political nihilism}}'''Political nihilism''' is a negative outlook on existing political and social structures, similar to [[anarchism]]. It seeks to uphold individual freedom against oppressive governmental controls and societal norms. Its radical and nihilistic tendencies are expressed in the revolutionary aim to dismantle these established forms of order, ranging from [[political institution]]s to traditional beliefs and social practices upholding them, without proposing alternative structures to replace them.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Crosby|1988|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9VnPgFiW0CIC&pg=PA9 9–11, 35]}} | {{harvnb|Pratt|loc=§ 1. Origins}} | {{harvnb|Crosby|1998|loc=Lead section}} | {{harvnb|Joyce|2013}} }}</ref>{{efn|[[National nihilism]], a related outlook, is a negative attitude towards one's own country.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Nairn|2011|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=vQDfDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA380 380]}} | {{harvnb|Marples|1996|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=evVZCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA25 25]}} }}</ref>In China, the term ''[[historical nihilism]]'' is used by the [[Chinese Communist Party]] to describe historical views that challenge the party's official account of the past.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Cadell|2021}} | {{harvnb|Peng|2023|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=gRLREAAAQBAJ&pg=PA1597 1597]}} }}</ref>}}

Political nihilism is primarily associated with the [[Russian nihilist movement]] of the late 19th century. It emerged as a reaction to the rigid social structures and [[authoritarian]] rule in [[Tsar|Tzarist]] Russia. In their rejection of established institutions and norms, Russian nihilists resorted to extreme means to promote a radical social [[revolution]], leading to various forms of violence and [[terrorism]], including [[assassination]]s and [[arson]]. Some of the revolutionaries saw Turgenev's character Bazarov as their inspiration and role model.<ref>{{multiref | {{harvnb|Crosby|1988|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9VnPgFiW0CIC&pg=PA9 9–11]}} | {{harvnb|Pratt|loc=§ 1. Origins}} }}</ref>