White nationalism
Viewed in the most benign light, White nationalism is the attempt to create racial identity groups which advance the social and economic interests of White or Caucasian people. While the political and economic elites which rule the earth can (with the exception of the Japanese) fairly be described as "White", these elites do not rule exclusively for the benefit of White or Caucasian people as a group. These ruling elites have, on the contrary, extended civil rights and economic opportunities to those of other racial and cultural backgrounds who from a White nationalist viewpoint can be viewed as competing for opportunities with less favored members of the White race.
A negative view
Viewed in a more negative light, White nationalism can be viewed as a reaction by disenfranchised Whites against the rise of a global multicultural civilization which is tolerant and inclusive. While posturing as civil rights groups advocating the interests of their ethnic group, White nationalist groups frequently draw on the traditions of Nazism , fascism and the racist and nativist traditions of the American Ku Klux Klan and the British symbols of patriotism, Christianity and Western civilization.
White nationalist beliefs
White nationalism is the belief that white people should have an identity as a group sharing a common heritage, as is common amongst other racial groups (black people, East Asian people, and so on). This may include advocacy for policies favored by a majority of white people, or the establishment of advocacy blocs to promote issues important to white people, similar to advocacy groups already existing for other racial groups, such as the NAACP (see also identity politics). Specific policies may include things such as defending the teaching of European history in schools or opposing affirmative action due to reverse racism and perceptions that it is a racist law.
White separatism
More extreme white nationalists may also support white separatism, the belief that white people should live separately from non-whites, either in separate all-white nations or in separate white areas of existing nations (see also racial segregation). White nationalism called by that name usually has a hint of these more extreme viewpoints in it, as more moderate supporters of some of the movement's goals do not typically self-identify with the label.
History of White nationalism
Historically, white nationalism has been connected to opposition to black civil rights and to white supremacism. Many modern white nationalists explicitly deny being white supremacists, arguing that they merely wish for each group of people with shared heritage, including white people, to be allowed to promote and preserve its heritage, and do not desire to oppress or dominate other races as racial supremacists do. However, many of their critics charge that white nationalism is simply white supremacism in disguise. Some white supremacists call themselves White Nationalists, since it is a more acceptable term.
The concept of race
The term "race", though according to some long dispensed-with in terms of any meaningful scientific value, still holds social value for many who (in part or in whole) base their personal identity upon genetic characteristics, especially those that affect outward appearance. In all parts of the world, personal identity reflects the degree of awareness and connectivity to the outside world and foreign cultures, thus "race issues" tend to be seen as related to xenophobia, ethnocentrism, and other "culture clash" paradigms.
Similar concerns that may be a catalyst for a distinction of personal identity are religion, gender, language, and differences regarding these issues are often manifested in conflict of one form or another.
Neo-Nazi background
The term White Nationalist has been used by Neo-Nazi, Ku Klux Klan, Christian Identity and Aryan Nations groups, which have generally overlapping ideologies based on the perceived necessity to maintain Whites as a distinct race. Some of these groups have condoned violence in the past, and some have built up strong followings in prisons.
White separatism
As a result of the violent and radical image of some of the white nationalist groups portrayed in the media, a growing number of white nationalists have adopted less hostile rhetoric, and portray themselves as conservatives interested in maintaining traditional values, a term which they use to include white dominance in American life. Some claim to reject white "Supremacy" but rather call for "Separatism" - claiming that 'mainstream' minority groups such as the NAACP and LULAC are "separatist" as well. Some also reject the label of "Racist" but accept the label "racialist" for themselves.
White nationalist groups
American Renaissance and the Council of Conservative Citizens are two leading examples in the United States. In Europe, several far right political parties such as the British National Party, France's Front National, and the Austrian Freedom Party have won fairly wide support based on platforms widely seen as advocating racial separatism in addition to traditional nationalism. Some critics of more mainstream conservativism in the United States and the United Kingdom go further and claim an undercurrent of white nationalism exists in right wing politics (i.e Willie Horton, Pat Buchanan, Pete Wilson, Enoch Powell)- a charge most conservatives bitterly contest. White nationalists themselves reject the concept that Republicans like Pat Buchanan are "one of them."
Definition of White
White nationalists often have a definition of "whiteness" that is more limited than mainstream usage. Jewish and Muslim peoples are rarely considered "white", even if they appear to be European. Hispanics, Portuguese, and Italian people may or may not be considered white, based on regional backgrounds (Basque Spaniards and Northern Italians may be accepted while Sicilians and mestizos aren't). In white minority nations such as South Africa or some Latin American states, there are often arguments for a "white homeland" as well, and white Nationalism takes on a more literal meaning.
See also
