This ground-breaking analysis of political cults on both the left and right describes the characteristics of cults and explains their importance for mainstream political organizations. This is the first book to document the extent of political cults on both the right and left and explain their significance for mainstream political organizations.

The authors outline the defining characteristics of cults in general, and analyze the degree to which a variety of well-known movements fall within the spectrum of cultic organizations. The book covers such individuals and groups as Lyndon LaRouche, Fred Newman, Ted Grant, Marlene Dixon, the Christian Identity movement, Posse Commitatus, Aryan Nation, militias, and the Freemen. It explores the ideological underpinnings that predispose cult followers to cultic practices, along with the measures cults use to suppress dissent, achieve intense conformity, and extract extraordinary levels of commitment.

Critical Acclaim for On the Edge:

"The Tourish and Wohlforth study has great importance not only in revealing the large gamut of cultic political movements but in suggesting the common characteristics, and the considerable danger, of cultic politics in general"     -- Robert Jay Lifton, M.D.

"Every American parent with a college-age child should read this book …."    -- Chip Berlet, Political Research Associates

"The book is wonderfully written and provides a glimpse into the mindset of some rather scary people."     -- Phillip G. Clampitt 

"The misdeeds of cultists like Lyndon LaRouche and Fred Newman should be better known, and here is a book that deals with them authoritatively."    -- Werner Cohn

"Document[s] the influence of political cults in both right and left wings."    -- Booknews

"This discussion of the political dimensions of cult groups is helpful and interesting, as are a number of the detail-rich case studies"
    -- D. R. Imig, University of Memphis, Choice.

"For those who need a quick reference guide to some contemporary political cults in America, On The Edge is a useful source."
    -- Philip Abbott, Wayne State University, Utopian Studies.