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Alt-right

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The term alt-right (short for alternative right) is used to describe a political ideology variously associated with the following range of concepts:

  • white supremacism
  • white nationalism
  • racism
  • neo-Nazism
  • anti-Semitism
  • opposition to same-sex marriage
  • opposition to immigration
  • opposition to political correctness
  • opposition to feminism

The alt-right began as an internet movement. While many self-identified members of the alt-right support President Donald Trump, Trump does not consider himself to be a member of the alt-right.

Usage

Ballotpedia limits usage of the term alt-right to individuals who self-identify as members of the alt-right.

The following individuals have described themselves using the term alt-right:

  • Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist[1]
  • Richard Spencer, president of the National Policy Institute[2]

The following individuals have stated that they are not members of the alt-right:

Media definitions

Many media sources have published definitions of the term alt-right. A selection of these definitions can be found below:

  • The Los Angeles Times: “It's a brand of far-right conservatism that generally embraces and promotes white nationalism, racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia and misogyny.”[5]
  • Breitbart News: “They are mostly white, mostly male middle-American radicals, who are unapologetically embracing a new identity politics that prioritises the interests of their own demographic.”[6]
  • The Daily Beast: “the alt right is a neoreactionary effort comprised of right-wing agitators brought together by their opposition to immigration (in particular, Hispanic and Muslim immigration), animosity to Muslims, and general opposition to multiculturalism (they call it cultural Marxism). They hate political correctness, they like Donald Trump, and they love dubbing their enemies ‘cuckservatives.’”[7]
  • USA Today: “The alt-right — short for ‘alternative right’ — is a movement that bucks mainstream conservatism. It is a loose movement, mostly online, that includes people who are dedicated to ‘white identity,’ but because there is no formal structure, there are a lot of different types of people and ideas within the group.”[8]
  • The Associated Press: “The ‘alt-right’ or ‘alternative right’ is a name currently embraced by some white supremacists and white nationalists to refer to themselves and their ideology, which emphasizes preserving and protecting the white race in the United States in addition to, or over, other traditional conservative positions such as limited government, low taxes and strict law-and-order. The movement has been described as a mix of racism, white nationalism and populism. Although many adherents backed President-elect Donald Trump in the recent election, Trump last week said he disavows and condemns the 'alt-right.' The movement criticizes 'multiculturalism' and more rights for non-whites, women, Jews, Muslims, gays, immigrants and other minorities. Its members reject the American democratic ideal that all should have equality under the law regardless of creed, gender, ethnic origin or race."[9]
  • Fox News: “In the words of National Review's Washington Editor Eliana Johnson, like so many other creations of the digital age, it's ‘an amorphous internet movement.’ Its members are indistinguishable from other Trump supporters -- mostly white, male, blue collar, rural or red state, and enthused about Trump’s immigration reform and his promise to bring jobs back to America. But unlike other Trump supporters, the alt right followers have rejected the philosophy of the traditional GOP with unusual vehemence -- even coining a new phrase, 'Cucks,' to label traditional, inside-the-Beltway Republicans. It means conservatives who are emasculated or neutered by globalist/progressive forces.”[10]
  • NBC: “The alt-right, shorthand for ‘alternative right,’ is the blanket term for a loose gathering of conservatives primarily based online that can include everyone from critics of so-called ‘political correctness’ on college campuses to hardcore white supremacists and neo-Nazis.”[11]

Footnotes