UK to leave EU

[DLJ]

"rational fear of a Caliphate" or some such (although, thinking about it, can one have a rational fear? ... It would be like having a rational passion or a rational love    ).

One can have rational fears. Although someone claiming "rational fear of Caliphate" certainly has a lot of explaining to do. Such as how 2 to 4 percent of any given population would go about installing a Caliphate. And that's even assuming 100 percent of these 2 to 4 percent even want it.

That's also why the regressive (authoritarian) left finds it so ridiculous and fundamentally stupid, and perfectly in line with the fear of the jewish takeover in the first half of the last century.

Can you give me an example of a rational fear?  I was considering poisonous snakes or spiders but I'd put those in the category of 'sensible' rather than 'rational' i.e. sensory input triggering a fight, flight or freeze reaction as opposed to rationality, which requires thought (and of course, time).

But concern regarding a politicised ideology e.g. Stalin-style Communism or a theocracy (e.g. a Caliphate) might be a contender for a 'rational fear'; it would be certainly qualify as rational in that it would require some rational thinking but would it be a fear (in the instinctive sense)?

From your comment about 2-4%, I think you are making a point about risk (specifically 'likelihood' or 'vulnerability').  I'm not sure where your numbers come from but yes, the proximity to an existing Islamic State would be a factor... Singapore being an example of higher vulnerability hence the TPP etc.

I can't agree with your last point.  Surely it would be the non-authoritarian progressive left who would be highlighting the ridiculousnessosity of the threat.  The authoritarian regressive left would be the ones declaring any dissent as hate-speech and of course the authoritarian right using the fear, no, creating the fear to impose tighter security measures e.g. Poland, Trump and some of the Brexiteers, etc.