Abstract
In the aftermath of the 2017 Charlottesville tragedy, the prevailing narrative is a Manichean division between ‘white supremacists’ and ‘anti-racists’. We suggest a more complicated, nuanced reality. While the so-called ‘Alt-Right’ includes those pursuing an atavistic political end of racial and ethnic separation, it is also characterised by pluralism and a strategy of nonviolent dialogue and social change, features associated with classic liberalism. The ‘Left,’ consistent with its historic mission, opposes the Alt-Right’s racial/ethnic prejudice; but, a highly visible movement goes farther, embracing an authoritarianism that would forcibly exclude these voices from the public sphere. This authoritarian element has influenced institutions historically committed to free expression and dialogue, notably universities and the ACLU. We discuss these paradoxes by analysing the discourse and actions of each movement, drawing from our study of hundreds of posts and articles on Alt-Right websites and our online exchanges on a leading site (AltRight.com). We consider related news reports and scholarly research, concluding with the case for dialogue.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 221-228 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Society |
| Volume | 55 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs |
|
| Publication status | Published - 2018 Jun 1 |
Fingerprint
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Sociology and Political Science
- Social Sciences(all)
Cite this
}
Charlottesville paradox : The ‘liberalizing’ alt-right, ‘authoritarian’ left, and politics of dialogue. / Phillips, Joe Carroll; Yi, Joseph.
In: Society, Vol. 55, No. 3, 01.06.2018, p. 221-228.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
TY - JOUR
T1 - Charlottesville paradox
T2 - The ‘liberalizing’ alt-right, ‘authoritarian’ left, and politics of dialogue
AU - Phillips, Joe Carroll
AU - Yi, Joseph
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - In the aftermath of the 2017 Charlottesville tragedy, the prevailing narrative is a Manichean division between ‘white supremacists’ and ‘anti-racists’. We suggest a more complicated, nuanced reality. While the so-called ‘Alt-Right’ includes those pursuing an atavistic political end of racial and ethnic separation, it is also characterised by pluralism and a strategy of nonviolent dialogue and social change, features associated with classic liberalism. The ‘Left,’ consistent with its historic mission, opposes the Alt-Right’s racial/ethnic prejudice; but, a highly visible movement goes farther, embracing an authoritarianism that would forcibly exclude these voices from the public sphere. This authoritarian element has influenced institutions historically committed to free expression and dialogue, notably universities and the ACLU. We discuss these paradoxes by analysing the discourse and actions of each movement, drawing from our study of hundreds of posts and articles on Alt-Right websites and our online exchanges on a leading site (AltRight.com). We consider related news reports and scholarly research, concluding with the case for dialogue.
AB - In the aftermath of the 2017 Charlottesville tragedy, the prevailing narrative is a Manichean division between ‘white supremacists’ and ‘anti-racists’. We suggest a more complicated, nuanced reality. While the so-called ‘Alt-Right’ includes those pursuing an atavistic political end of racial and ethnic separation, it is also characterised by pluralism and a strategy of nonviolent dialogue and social change, features associated with classic liberalism. The ‘Left,’ consistent with its historic mission, opposes the Alt-Right’s racial/ethnic prejudice; but, a highly visible movement goes farther, embracing an authoritarianism that would forcibly exclude these voices from the public sphere. This authoritarian element has influenced institutions historically committed to free expression and dialogue, notably universities and the ACLU. We discuss these paradoxes by analysing the discourse and actions of each movement, drawing from our study of hundreds of posts and articles on Alt-Right websites and our online exchanges on a leading site (AltRight.com). We consider related news reports and scholarly research, concluding with the case for dialogue.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046822573&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85046822573&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12115-018-0243-0
DO - 10.1007/s12115-018-0243-0
M3 - Comment/debate
AN - SCOPUS:85046822573
VL - 55
SP - 221
EP - 228
JO - Society
JF - Society
SN - 0147-2011
IS - 3
ER -