Author Description
In recent years, the so-called Alt-Right, a white nationalist movement, has grown at an alarming rate. Taking advantage of high levels of racial polarization, the Alt-Right seeks to normalize explicit white identity politics. Growing from a marginalized and disorganized group of Internet trolls and propagandists, the Alt-Right became one of the major news stories of the 2016 presidential election, and exploded into public consciousness after its march through Charlottesville in summer 2017. Discussions of the Alt-Right are now a regular part of political discourse in the United States and beyond. In The Alt-Right: What Everyone Needs to Know®, George Hawley, one of the world's leading experts on the conservative movement and right-wing radicalism, provides a clear explanation of the ideas, tactics, history, and prominent figures of one of the most disturbing movements in America today. Although it presents itself as a new phenomenon, the Alt-Right is just the latest iteration of a longstanding radical right-wing political tradition. Throughout, Hawley discusses the other primary ideological influences on the Alt-Right: libertarianism, paleoconservatism, neo-reaction, and the Men's Rights Movement. The Alt-Right represents a genuine challenge to pluralistic liberal democracy, but its size and influence are often exaggerated. Whether intentionally or not, President Donald Trump energized the Alt-Right in 2016, yet conflating Trump's variety of right-wing politics with the Alt-Right causes many observers to both overestimate the Alt-Right's size and downplay its radicalism. Hawley provides a tour of the contemporary radical right, and explains how it differs from more mainstream varieties of conservatism. Dispassionate and accessible, this is an essential overview for anyone seeking to understand to this disruptive and dangerous political movement.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the origins, ideological foundations, and political impact of the Alt-Right movement within the context of contemporary American politics. George Hawley, a political scientist specializing in right-wing radicalism, utilizes historical analysis and political theory to deconstruct the movement's claims. He argues that while the Alt-Right presents itself as a novel phenomenon, it is deeply rooted in established radical right-wing traditions and ideological precursors.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Historical analysis of white nationalist movements in the United States
- Examination of ideological influences including libertarianism, paleoconservatism, and the Men's Rights Movement
- Assessment of the movement's relationship with mainstream conservatism and the 2016 presidential election
Scope Limits
- Does not provide an exhaustive biography of every minor figure associated with the movement
- Does not offer policy prescriptions for countering radicalization
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and reviewers frequently cite this work as a balanced, objective primer for understanding the complexities of the radical right. Readers often note the accessible prose style, which manages to distill dense political theory into a format suitable for a general audience.
Page Count:
264
Publication Date:
2018-12-05
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190905204
ISBN-13:
9780190905200
History
Sociology
Current Events