Interesting this from the Guardian, a piece that points to a very disturbing trend in some conservative parties.

Alberta's premier has called fellow Conservatives "lunatics" who are "trying to take over the asylum" as a populist mutiny in his party foreshadows a bitter fight for the future of Canada's Conservative movement.

In a leaked recording of a meeting with caucus staff on Tuesday, Premier Jason Kenney warned a far-right element – skeptical of coronavirus measures and wedded to conspiracy theories – could seize control of the party in the coming weeks as the United Conservatives hold a leadership review.

"I will not let this mainstream conservative party become an agent for extreme, hateful, intolerant, bigoted and crazy views. Sorry to be so blunt with you but you need to understand what the stakes are here," he said, before alluding to the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory with a warning that "people who think I am involved in a global conspiracy to traffic children" would show up to vote for his removal.

The problem being that those like Kenney are then outgunned from the right, at least that's the situation in the US with respect to this dynamic. It's troubling in a sense because not only do we see so-called 'culture war' tropes used to fragment or disrupt polities, but they also disrupt parties and - due to the hyper-activist fringe who adopt them, they push those parties rightwards and far-rightwards.

In one way the left could rub its hands with glee. As Kenney notes:

"What's the easiest path for me? Just to take a walk. I don't need this job. I could go to the private sector, have my evenings, weekends off," he said. The premier opted to stay and fight, he said, over fears that internal turmoil would hand the rival New Democrats power in the next election.

The party was hit with fresh turmoil this week after leadership made a last-minute switch to mail-in ballots, citing a record surge in party registration. The sudden shift has led to accusations of cheating by party members, some of whom called for Kenney to resign.

But the problem is these parties tend to drag, as with the Republicans, a significant tranche of voters with them. Perhaps this is largely limited to the North American continent. But I wouldn't bet on it.