Music, Youth and International Links in Post-War British Fascism: The Transformation of Extremism (Palgrave Studies in the History of Subcultures and Popular Music)

This Book Examines The Domestic Evolution And International Connections Of Post-war Fascists In The Uk. It Argues That Post-war British Fascism Became Transnational As The Radicals Increasingly Exchanged Ideas, Money And Culture With Like-minded Foreigners. Using Interviews With Key Figures In Several Countries, This Book Traces The History Of The National Front (nf) And British National Party (bnp), Focusing On The Political Parties’ Youth, Music And International Outreach. It Explores How British Fascism Grew Into An International Movement, How Fascist Youth Developed Skinhead Music As A Conduit For Their Ideas, And How Some Of Those Key Figures Made International Connections With People In Iraq, Libya, Syria And The United States. Moreover, It Also Draws From Rare Internal Party Documents, Law Enforcement Records And Membership Lists To Track Foreign Funding And The Parties’ Domestic Electoral Growth. For The First Time, This Book Gained Access To Both The Leadership And Rank-and-file Of The Bnp And Nf To Explore Its Culture And International Connections. In Doing So, It Shows The Successes, Failures And Changes That Have Made British Fascism A Force In The International Extremist Subculture. Introduction -- The Fascist Tradition, 1967-1977 -- Youth Against Tradition, 1977-1983 -- An International Youth Movement, 1983-1990 -- Building A Street Force, 1990-1999 -- Fascist Modernization, 1999-2005 -- The Fascist Peak And The Fascist Decline, 2005-2016 -- Conclusion. Ryan Shaffer. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 337-339) And Index. Acknowledgements 6 Contents 8 Abbreviations 9 Chapter 1 Introduction 11 Sources 15 Definitions 16 Structure 19 Conclusion 22 Chapter 2 The Fascist Tradition, 1967–1977 26 Inter-War British Fascism 27 Early Post-War Fascism and the League of Empire Loyalists 31 The National Front 35 Rivers of Blood 39 Fascist Unions 48 Conclusion 54 Chapter 3 Youth Against Tradition, 1977–1983 69 Anti-Nazi League and Rock Against Racism 70 Young National Front 75 Rock Against Communism 81 The 1979 Election and the British National Party 84 Foreign Connections 88 The Rebirth of Rock Against Communism 92 Conclusion 98 Chapter 4 An International Youth Movement, 1983–1990 114 Political Soldiers 115 White Noise Club 119 Internal Disputes 127 Blood & Honour 133 The White and Black International 138 Conclusion 147 Chapter 5 Building a Street Force, 1990–1999 164 British National Party Evolution 165 Rights for Whites 169 Combat 18 175 Street Terror 180 International Third Position and Third Way 186 The Search for a New Image 193 Leadership Challenge 200 Conclusion 204 Chapter 6 Fascist Modernization, 1999–2005 227 The “Modernized” British National Party 228 International Links 235 Internal Struggles and Burnley Victory 245 Ladder Strategy and Tyndall’s Death 248 Fascist Folk Music 252 Conclusion 258 Chapter 7 The Fascist Peak and the Fascist Decline, 2005–2016 278 Local Breakthroughs 279 Beyond Campaigns 286 European Parliament 288 Infighting and Party Splits 295 Implosion 302 Conclusion 309 Chapter 8 Conclusion 334 Select Bibliography 342 Index 345 This book examines the domestic evolution and international connections of post-war fascists in the United Kingdom. It argues that post-war British fascism became transnational as the radicals increasingly exchanged ideas, money and culture with like-minded foreigners. Drawing from interviews with key figures in several countries, it traces the history of the National Front and British National Party by focusing on the political parties' youth, music and international outreach. It explores how post-war British fascism grew into an international movement, how fascist youth developed skinhead music as a conduit for their ideas, and how some of those same key figures made international connections with people in countries, such as Iraq, Libya, Syria and the United States. Moreover, it also draws from rare internal party documents, law enforcement records and membership lists to track foreign funding and the parties' domestic electoral growth. For the first time, this book gained access to both the leadership and rank-and-file of the British National Party and National Front to explore its culture and international connections. In doing so, it shows the successes, failures and changes that have made British fascism a force in the international extremist subculture Annotation This book examines the domestic evolution and international connections of post-war fascists in the UK. It argues that post-war British fascism became transnational as the radicals increasingly exchanged ideas, money and culture with like-minded foreigners. Using interviews with key figures in several countries, this book traces the history of the National Front (NF) and British National Party (BNP), focusing on the political parties' youth, music and international outreach. It explores how British fascism grew into an international movement, how fascist youth developed skinhead music as a conduit for their ideas, and how some of those key figures made international connections with people in Iraq, Libya, Syria and the United States. Moreover, it also draws from rare internal party documents, law enforcement records and membership lists to track foreign funding and the parties' domestic electoral growth. For the first time, this book gained access to both the leadership and rank-and-file of the BNP and NF to explore its culture and international connections. In doing so, it shows the successes, failures and changes that have made British fascism a force in the international extremist subculture Front Matter ....Pages i-x Introduction (Ryan Shaffer)....Pages 1-15 The Fascist Tradition, 1967–1977 (Ryan Shaffer)....Pages 17-59 Youth Against Tradition, 1977–1983 (Ryan Shaffer)....Pages 61-105 An International Youth Movement, 1983–1990 (Ryan Shaffer)....Pages 107-156 Building a Street Force, 1990–1999 (Ryan Shaffer)....Pages 157-219 Fascist Modernization, 1999–2005 (Ryan Shaffer)....Pages 221-271 The Fascist Peak and the Fascist Decline, 2005–2016 (Ryan Shaffer)....Pages 273-328 Conclusion (Ryan Shaffer)....Pages 329-336 Back Matter ....Pages 337-350