Neo-Nationalism : The Rise of Nativist Populism

This book maps three waves of nativist populism in the post-war era, emerging into contemporary Neo-Nationalism. The first wave rose in the wake of the Oil Crisis in 1972. The second was ignited by the Collapse of Communism in 1989, spiking with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The third began to emerge after the Financial Crisis of 2008, soaring with the Refugee Crisis of 2015. Whether the Coronavirus Crisis of 2020 will lead to the rise of a fourth wave remains to be seen. The book traces a move away from liberal democracy and towards renewed authoritative tendencies on both sides of the Atlantic. It follows the mainstreaming of formerly discredited and marginalized politics, gradually becoming a new normal. By identifying common qualities of Neo-Nationalism, the book frames a threefold claim of nativist populists in protecting the people: discursively creating an external threat, pointing to domestic traitors, and positioning themselves as the true defenders of the nation. Preface and Acknowledgments......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Acronyms......Page 9 Introduction: The Rise of Nativist Populism......Page 11 Liberal Democracy......Page 12 Shared Values......Page 14 Migration......Page 15 Illiberal Democracy......Page 16 The Populist Rise......Page 17 Prevalence......Page 19 Transmission......Page 20 Pathological or Practical......Page 21 Into the Mainstream......Page 23 Varieties of Populism......Page 24 Other Eras and Areas......Page 26 The Erosion of Democracy......Page 27 Incremental Unadmitted Authoritarianism......Page 28 Democracy in Name......Page 29 The Transformation of Party Politics......Page 31 Distant and Aloof......Page 32 Anti-immigration......Page 34 The Aim and Frame of the Book......Page 35 Structure......Page 36 References......Page 37 Understanding Nativist Populism......Page 39 Nations and Nationalism......Page 40 Discursive Constructs......Page 42 Fascism......Page 43 The (Infallible) Interpreter......Page 44 Framing Populism......Page 45 Anti-politics......Page 46 Nativism......Page 48 Cultural Separatism......Page 49 Simple Solutions......Page 51 Style and Content......Page 52 Four-Step Rhetorical Formulation......Page 53 The Führer Principle......Page 54 Intolerant Democracy......Page 55 Three Waves......Page 56 Common Qualities......Page 58 A Threefold Claim for the People......Page 60 References......Page 61 The First Wave: The Oil Crisis and the New Nationalists......Page 63 The New Post-War Order......Page 64 International Institutional Architecture......Page 65 Nations on the Move......Page 68 Putting Down Roots......Page 69 The Post-War Economic Boom......Page 70 Early Extremism......Page 71 The Oil Crisis of 1972......Page 72 Polarization Anew......Page 73 The Cultural Turn......Page 74 The National Front......Page 75 Antagonism......Page 76 Ethno-Nationalism......Page 77 Identity Politics......Page 78 Alpine Populism......Page 80 Austria’s Freedom Party......Page 81 Nordic Chauvinism......Page 82 Denmark Turning......Page 84 Norway Tags Along......Page 85 Hagen to the Helm......Page 86 Agro Populism in Suomi......Page 87 American McCarthyism......Page 88 The Neocons......Page 90 References......Page 92 The Second Wave: The Collapse of Communism and 9/11......Page 93 Ever Closer Union......Page 94 Re-drawn Dividing Lines......Page 95 The Rise of the Second Wave......Page 96 Sneaking Past the Social Democrats......Page 97 Chávismo......Page 98 Flanders Field......Page 99 Fortuyn’s Liberal Novelty......Page 101 Berlusconismo......Page 102 The Northern League......Page 104 Haider’s Tabloid Populism......Page 105 Austria First......Page 106 The No-Queen of Denmark......Page 108 Moving Against Migration......Page 109 The US Ultra-Right......Page 111 9/11......Page 112 Freedom Fries......Page 113 The Anti-Muslim Turn......Page 116 The Tides Turn in Eastern Europe......Page 117 Claiming Victimhood......Page 118 The Kremlin’s Oligarchic Reform......Page 119 Geopolitical Shifts in France......Page 120 National (and European) Identity......Page 122 Neo-Fascist Movements......Page 123 Neo-Nazi Movements......Page 124 Defending Dutch Liberalism by Opposing Islam......Page 125 Berlusconi’s Scandals......Page 126 Finding Legitimacy......Page 128 Danishness......Page 129 Conflicts and Connections......Page 130 Milder Norwegians......Page 131 Brave Truth-Tellers......Page 132 Ethno-Nationalist Norway......Page 133 Unquiet Tea Party......Page 134 American Conspiratorialism......Page 135 References......Page 137 The Third Wave: The International Financial Crisis and Refugees......Page 141 The Credit Crunch......Page 142 The Rise of the Third Wave......Page 143 Social Media and Fake News......Page 145 The Spread of Conspiracy Theories......Page 147 The Great Replacement Theory......Page 149 Sharia Panic......Page 151 The Syrian War and the Refugee Crisis......Page 152 Alternative for Germany......Page 153 The New Nationalists......Page 155 Germanic Differences......Page 156 Up North......Page 157 From the Fringe......Page 159 Nativist Welfare......Page 160 Paradigm Shift......Page 161 Sneak Islamization......Page 162 The Breivik Effect......Page 164 Dog Whistling......Page 165 True Finns and the Crisis......Page 166 The Forgotten People......Page 167 Christian Values......Page 168 Against (Non-Existent) Islam......Page 169 Loosening the Cordon Sanitaire......Page 170 Equal But Separate......Page 172 New Master Framework......Page 173 Persistance......Page 174 Icelandic Nationalists......Page 175 An Illiberal East......Page 177 The Ethno-Centric View......Page 178 Two of a Kind......Page 179 Conspiratorial Russia......Page 180 Traitors Within......Page 182 Misinformation Tactics......Page 184 Troll Factories......Page 185 Gayropa......Page 186 Brexit, Brexit, Brexit......Page 187 Taking Back Control......Page 189 The Muslim Card......Page 190 A Violent Turn......Page 192 Political Predicament......Page 193 In Trump We Trust......Page 195 A Post-Truth President......Page 197 Enemies of the People......Page 198 Vilifying Migrants......Page 199 The Coronavirus Crisis......Page 201 The Muslim Connection......Page 202 White Supremacists......Page 204 White Genocide......Page 205 Pizza-Gate......Page 206 The National Rally......Page 207 No Frexit......Page 208 A Run on Rome......Page 209 References......Page 211 Conclusions: The Neo-Nationalist Order......Page 218 Index......Page 230 Preface and Acknowledgments 6 Contents 8 Acronyms 9 Introduction: The Rise of Nativist Populism 11 Liberal Democracy 12 New World Order(s) 14 Shared Values 14 Migration 15 Illiberal Democracy 16 The Populist Rise 17 Prevalence 19 Transmission 20 Pathological or Practical 21 Into the Mainstream 23 Varieties of Populism 24 Other Eras and Areas 26 The Erosion of Democracy 27 Incremental Unadmitted Authoritarianism 28 Democracy in Name 29 The Transformation of Party Politics 31 Distant and Aloof 32 Anti-immigration 34 The Aim and Frame of the Book 35 Structure 36 References 37 Understanding Nativist Populism 39 Nations and Nationalism 40 Discursive Constructs 42 Fascism 43 The (Infallible) Interpreter 44 Framing Populism 45 Anti-politics 46 Nativism 48 Cultural Separatism 49 Simple Solutions 51 Style and Content 52 Four-Step Rhetorical Formulation 53 The Führer Principle 54 Intolerant Democracy 55 A Winning Formula 56 Three Waves 56 Common Qualities 58 A Threefold Claim for the People 60 References 61 The First Wave: The Oil Crisis and the New Nationalists 63 The New Post-War Order 64 International Institutional Architecture 65 Nations on the Move 68 Putting Down Roots 69 The Post-War Economic Boom 70 Early Extremism 71 The Oil Crisis of 1972 72 Polarization Anew 73 The Cultural Turn 74 The National Front 75 Antagonism 76 Ethno-Nationalism 77 Identity Politics 78 Alpine Populism 80 Austria’s Freedom Party 81 Nordic Chauvinism 82 Denmark Turning 84 Norway Tags Along 85 Hagen to the Helm 86 Agro Populism in Suomi 87 American McCarthyism 88 The Neocons 90 References 92 The Second Wave: The Collapse of Communism and 9/11 93 Ever Closer Union 94 Re-drawn Dividing Lines 95 The Rise of the Second Wave 96 Sneaking Past the Social Democrats 97 Chávismo 98 Flanders Field 99 Fortuyn’s Liberal Novelty 101 Berlusconismo 102 The Northern League 104 Haider’s Tabloid Populism 105 Austria First 106 The No-Queen of Denmark 108 Moving Against Migration 109 The US Ultra-Right 111 9/11 112 Freedom Fries 113 The Anti-Muslim Turn 116 The Tides Turn in Eastern Europe 117 Claiming Victimhood 118 The Kremlin’s Oligarchic Reform 119 Geopolitical Shifts in France 120 National (and European) Identity 122 Neo-Fascist Movements 123 Neo-Nazi Movements 124 Defending Dutch Liberalism by Opposing Islam 125 Berlusconi’s Scandals 126 Finding Legitimacy 128 Danishness 129 Conflicts and Connections 130 Milder Norwegians 131 Brave Truth-Tellers 132 Ethno-Nationalist Norway 133 Unquiet Tea Party 134 American Conspiratorialism 135 References 137 The Third Wave: The International Financial Crisis and Refugees 141 The Credit Crunch 142 The Rise of the Third Wave 143 Social Media and Fake News 145 The Spread of Conspiracy Theories 147 The Great Replacement Theory 149 Sharia Panic 151 The Syrian War and the Refugee Crisis 152 Alternative for Germany 153 The New Nationalists 155 Germanic Differences 156 Up North 157 From the Fringe 159 Nativist Welfare 160 Paradigm Shift 161 Sneak Islamization 162 The Breivik Effect 164 Dog Whistling 165 True Finns and the Crisis 166 The Forgotten People 167 Christian Values 168 Against (Non-Existent) Islam 169 The Swedish Exception 170 Loosening the Cordon Sanitaire 170 Equal But Separate 172 New Master Framework 173 Persistance 174 Icelandic Nationalists 175 An Illiberal East 177 The Ethno-Centric View 178 Two of a Kind 179 Conspiratorial Russia 180 External Aggressors 182 Traitors Within 182 Misinformation Tactics 184 Troll Factories 185 Gayropa 186 Brexit, Brexit, Brexit 187 Taking Back Control 189 The Muslim Card 190 A Violent Turn 192 Political Predicament 193 In Trump We Trust 195 A Post-Truth President 197 Enemies of the People 198 Vilifying Migrants 199 The Coronavirus Crisis 201 The Muslim Connection 202 White Supremacists 204 White Genocide 205 Pizza-Gate 206 The National Rally 207 No Frexit 208 A Run on Rome 209 References 211 Conclusions: The Neo-Nationalist Order 218 Index 230 This book maps three waves of nativist populism in the post-war era, emerging into contemporary Neo-Nationalism. The first wave rose in the wake of the Oil Crisis in 1972. The second was ignited by the Collapse of Communism in 1989, spiking with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The third began to emerge after the Financial Crisis of 2008, soaring with the Refugee Crisis of 2015. The book traces a move away from liberal democracy and towards renewed authoritative tendencies on both sides of the Atlantic. It follows the mainstreaming of formerly discredited and marginalized politics, gradually becoming a new normal. By identifying common qualities of Neo-Nationalism, the book frames a threefold claim of nativist populists in protecting the people: discursively creating an external threat, pointing to domestic traitors, and positioning themselves as the true defenders of the nation. Eirikur Bergmann is Professor of Politics at Bifrost University, Iceland, and Director of its Centre for European Studies. He is author of nine academic books, and three novels. He is a frequent commentator in media on politics and European affairs. Our current politics is plagued by the disturbing reemergence of nationalism, populism, and extremism. Many countries have turned away from democracy in favor of authoritarianism. Eirikur Bergmann carefully examines these illiberal trends from across Europe and the US to explain how democracy is failing and why. This is a must-read for any student of modern political history. - Joseph E. Uscinski, Department of Political Science, University of Miami, USA This latest study by Eirikur Bergmann provides an encyclopaedic, accessible, page-turning global survey of the rise of nationalist populism. This is likely to become the definitive introduction to the subject. - David Farrell, Professor of Politics, University College Dublin, Ireland This excellent book is timely and important. It highlights the need to consider the historical context and evolution of nativist forms of populism to fully understand their implications for our own time. It also reminds us that these implications are potentially so dire as to overturn our current world order, not by evolving it but by disrupting it. - Lone Sorensen, Department of Media, Journalism and Film, University of Huddersfield, UK 'Our current politics is plagued by the disturbing reemergence of nationalism, populism, and extremism. Many countries have turned away from democracy in favor of authoritarianism. Eirikur Bergmann carefully examines these illiberal trends from across Europe and the US to explain how democracy is failing and why. This is a must-read for any student of modern political history.' -Joseph E. Uscinski, Department of Political Science, University of Miami, USA 'This latest study by Eirikur Bergmann provides an encyclopaedic, accessible, page-turning global survey of the rise of nationalist populism. This is likely to become the definitive introduction to the subject.' -David Farrell, Professor of Politics, University College Dublin, Ireland This book maps three waves of nativist populism in the post-war era, emerging into contemporary Neo-Nationalism. The first wave rose in the wake of the Oil Crisis in 1972. The second was ignited by the Collapse of Communism in 1989, spiking with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The third began to emerge after the Financial Crisis of 2008, soaring with the Refugee Crisis of 2015. The book traces a move away from liberal democracy and towards renewed authoritative tendencies on both sides of the Atlantic. It follows the mainstreaming of formerly discredited and marginalized politics, gradually becoming a new normal. By identifying common qualities of Neo-Nationalism, the book frames a threefold claim of nativist populists in protecting the people: discursively creating an external threat, pointing to domestic traitors, and positioning themselves as the true defenders of the nation. Eirikur Bergmann is Professor of Politics at Bifrost University, Iceland, and Director of its Centre for European Studies. He is author of nine academic books, and three novels. He is a frequent commentator in media on politics and European affairs