If a nation doesn't take care of the fundamental needs ...

[Fantastic Anarchist]

... of its people, it shouldn't be surprising that some may tend towards fundamentalism.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Explain exactly what you mean? Fundamentalism?

[safeinOhio]

2. I think fundamentalism means

no fun and mental.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

5. Meaning fanatical.

Extremist and possibly violent. Good question. Though, they don't necessarily have to be violent to be politically powerful, though.

[Yavin4]

3. Precisely. The destruction of the middle class leads to extreme politics.

Politics flows out of economics. Following WWII and FDR's New Deal, America's politics and politicians were mostly centrist. Yes, there was racism, sexism, and homophobia, but overall, most of the pols in congress were middle of the road which reflected a nation that was a majority middle class.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

4. Yes, and as funds, resources, etc.become more limited ...

...people become more desperate.

[Calculating]

6. Yup

The decline of the middle class in a nation, and the rise of extremist ideologies are inversely related. Extremism is generally inspired and caused by fear, and nothing causes more fear than economic insecurity. People don't care so much about crap going on around the world. They care about their bank accounts and whether they can afford basic health care for their families.