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White Supremacy and White Nationalism: A Discussion on Terminology
Version 2 2019-03-19, 19:38
Version 1 2019-01-06, 18:53
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posted on 2019-03-19, 19:38 authored by Chip BerletChip BerletWhite Supremacy and White Nationalism:
A Discussion on Terminology
Over many decades the terms “White Supremacy” and “White Nationalism” have been defined in a variety of ways by different authors. Biologists reject the popular concept of ‘race.’ The perception of biological racial differences, however, plays a central role in historic and current power relationships in our nation.
As the book Trumping Democracy was being edited, there was a lively online discussion and debate on terminology and definitions used by progressive researcher and activists in the United States. Thanks to Scot Nakagawa, Loretta Ross, Ruby Sales, Steven Gardiner, and Devin Burghart for their thoughts which led to a collection of various useful definitions on Figshare.
For the edited book the following definitions are used.
> White Supremacist System refers to the systems, structures, and institutions of a nation that give White people special privileges and powers, whether or not they want these privileges or harbor a dislike of people from other races.
> Organized White Supremacist Groups are social and political organizations with the goal of ensuring White people exercise power over people of color. These may work through legal means inside of the democratic system as it exists now to maintain or increase the ‘White supremacist system’; advocate forming an all-White state; or seek to exterminate or expel people of color.
These groups almost always rely on antisemitic conspiracy theories for a theoretical core, and often display intense xenophobia, heterosexism, and misogyny.
A Discussion on Terminology
Over many decades the terms “White Supremacy” and “White Nationalism” have been defined in a variety of ways by different authors. Biologists reject the popular concept of ‘race.’ The perception of biological racial differences, however, plays a central role in historic and current power relationships in our nation.
The term ‘White Supremacy’ is often used by scholars and activists to describe a constellation of racist ideologies and practices. There is no consensus on the use of different terms by scholars and activists who study racist and right-wing politics.
As the book Trumping Democracy was being edited, there was a lively online discussion and debate on terminology and definitions used by progressive researcher and activists in the United States. Thanks to Scot Nakagawa, Loretta Ross, Ruby Sales, Steven Gardiner, and Devin Burghart for their thoughts which led to a collection of various useful definitions on Figshare.
For the edited book the following definitions are used.
>White Nationalism claims that the essence of the United States as a nation is carried exclusively in the social, cultural, economic, and political practices of early European settlers.
> White Superiority is the specious idea that White people are a uniquely talented ‘race.’> White Supremacist System refers to the systems, structures, and institutions of a nation that give White people special privileges and powers, whether or not they want these privileges or harbor a dislike of people from other races.
> Organized White Supremacist Groups are social and political organizations with the goal of ensuring White people exercise power over people of color. These may work through legal means inside of the democratic system as it exists now to maintain or increase the ‘White supremacist system’; advocate forming an all-White state; or seek to exterminate or expel people of color.
These groups almost always rely on antisemitic conspiracy theories for a theoretical core, and often display intense xenophobia, heterosexism, and misogyny.
