Archive:Far-right subcultures

Far-Right subculture refers to the symbolism, values and traits that hold relevance to various politically right-wing groups and organisations. There is not the 'classic' far-right, or neo-nazi, nowadays. There are a lot of different cultures and lifestyles, which make it harder to identify them and can be seen as part of the far-right strategy. There are three kinds of subcultures within far-right movements to distinguish: subcultural parasitism, subcultural creation around ideology and subcultures that are networking with far-right movements, as the football Hooligans did with the neo-nazis.

Subcultures created around or related to Nazi ideology

Main Article: Nazi symbolism See also: Nazi chic

Subcultural Parasitism

Far-right ideologists try to infiltrate youth- and subcultures to spread their ideas amongst them. These attempts are defined as subcultural parasitism. The probably most known subculture, which got parasitised by far-rights and neo-nazis is the Skinhead scene, that started originally in Great Britain and are known as White power skinhead. Some examples for subculture parasitism: the Nipster, infiltration of the Hipster (contemporary subculture) by neo-nazis (Nazi Hipster), Nazi punk, infiltration of the Heavy metal subculture, known as National Socialist black metal (NSBM/NSCH). Subcultures as the Goth subculture and the Hip Hop subculture got also infiltrated by far-right movements and ideologists.

Modern forms of far-right subcultures and lifestyles in specific countries

Italy

During the regime the National Fascist Party heavily influenced fashion in the pursuit for autarchy and the importance of aesthetics and symbolism: clothes had to be produced in Italy and had to reflect the values of the Italian people. Pieces of clothing such as the black shirts became associated with the dreaded Volunteer Militia for the Safety of the Nation and even to the regime itself. Nowadays neo-fascists still care a great deal about clothing, but with different approaches. Symbols and clothes like the Celtic Cross and the black clothing are still present and associated to the new filo-fascists political parties and movements, but, similarly to the neo-nazism case, there has also been a growing interest in "trendiness" and fashion, with new clothing brands that offer casual and formal clothing more in line with today's consumerist culture. This has led to three different types of brands usage by the neo-fascist subculture that still cares a big deal about clothing as a way to show their political affiliation, while caring about what is trendy as well:

• the use of brands that are not openly using symbols of fascism but that are thought to be targeting neo-fascist consumers in light of their choices in advertising and partnerships, with the choice of testimonials, models, settings and even copy material that recalls the neo-fascist archetypical man. For example, Pivert.
• the use of brands that while denying any political involvement (the apology of fascism in Italy is a felony officially) heavily rely on the fascist's regime icons, using symbols, mottos and images without using the name of the party while still making clear what is their political affiliation. An example is the decimaofficialstore.
• the use of brands that are arbitrarily given a power of identification with their political values by the members of the subculture itself.

The arbitrary appropriation of modern devices of today’s consumer culture in addition to the ones typical of its "ancestor" in Neo-fascism is not just limited to fashion, examples of modern culture products that were not born with this political affiliation but were used by neo-fascists to frame their values and the adherence of its affiliates to them are Tolkien's novels, which led to the "Campi Hobbit" (Hobbit Camps) experience: real political camps where space was given to topics often overlooked by typical political institutions, with right wing music groups, visual artists, radio podcasts performances and social issues discussions about topics such as young people’s unemployment together with paramilitary activities being carried out. Another very famous example is the politicization of football, with the Ultras groups often affiliated with certain ideologies. The majority of ultras groups in fact present small "bands" within them that are openly neo-fascist or at least far-right extremists, with groups such as Hellas Verona's "Brigate Gialloblu" or Juventus' "Vikings" having an infamous record of violence episodes, which are not related to the sport nor their supported teams' ideals.

USA

Main Article: Alt-Right

The American Alt-Right Movement

Also referred to as the alternative right, is a recent political movement which hold strong views on wide array of racially, religious and right-wing agendas, with a central theme surrounding white nationalism.

Culture of the American Alt-Right

The political movement of the American Alternate Right is a political movement that has gained significant prominence in the building up and consequent election on Donald Trump in the 2016 US election.

Alt-Right Characterisation

The typical alt-right supporter is of white-caucasian US citizen, most likely of a family lineage without recent immigration to the USA. While there are numerous recorded cases of anti-semitic and anti-Muslim behaviour and supporters to be of predominantly Christian background, personal religious disposition does not prove to be of great importance beyond those which are discriminated against.

Adoption of Neo-Fascist/ Nazi symbolism

Richard B. Spencer speaking at Alt-Right Rally, 2016

Since Donald Trump’s victory in November 2016, the exposure and symbolism associated with the alt-right has become more distinct. In in mid-November 2016 at an alt-right conference with approximately 200 people in Washington, D.C. One of the speakers at this event was president of the National Policy Institute and white nationalist; Richard Spencer. Audience members cheered and made the Nazi salute when he said, "Hail Trump, hail our people, hail victory!" The parallel theme of culture purity combined with the totalitarian and ominous connotations associated with Nazi history provide an aesthetic appealing to the themes and ideas of the alt-right. Due to the highly superficial nature of the group, understanding of the key concepts of behind these other far right political movements is secondary to the imagery and visual culture associated with them.

Far-right subcultures and fashion labels

Fashion label abuse

Fashion label abuse means in this case, far-right movements, use specific labels and connect their ideology. Some prominent examples are Lonsdale, Fred Perry and New Balance. The British sport label Lonsdale became popular in the German neo-nazi movement because of the letters 'NSDA' in the name, which refers to the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP, Nazi Party), that was active between 1920 and 1945. The popularity of Fred Perry can be explained through the demand in the skinhead scene. On top of that the brand offers polo shirts with a collar in the colors black-white-red, which was the flag color used by the nazi regime and is therefore as well prominent in German neo-nazi movements. In November 2016 Matthew LeBretton, New Balance’s vice president of public affairs, criticized the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, that the Obama administration led and Donald Trump opposes. After New Balance defended its opposition to TTP, Andrew Anglin, publisher of the American neo-nazi news and commentary website The Daily Stormer, declared New Balance the “Official Shoes of White People”.

Fashion label creation around far-right ideology

There are also fashion labels that got created for neo-nazis, by neo-nazis. Some examples for nazi fashion labels: Ansgar Aryan, Consdaple, Eric and Sons, Masterrace Europe, Outlaw, Reconquista, Rizist, Thor Steinar, Troublemaker, Dryve by Suizhyde, Greifvogel Wear, Hate-Hate, Hermannsland, Sport Frei, Pro Violence.

See also

• Youth subculture
• Neo-Nazism
• Far-right politics
• Nipster *Skinheads
• List of neo-Nazi bands
• White power music
• White power skinhead
• National Socialist black metal

References

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