The answer to the question of who the ultra-right are is usually as follows: they are representatives of political movements, whose views are completely opposite to communist ideology. However, such an explanation seems somewhat simplified and insufficiently detailed. There is a fairly wide range of ultra-right factions. Their general characteristic is the recognition of social inequality and discrimination as a permissible official state policy.
Definition
In order to form an objective idea of who the ultra-right are, one should take into account that their ideology includes some aspects of authoritarianism, anti-communism and nativism, but is not limited to this. Adherents of these political movements often evoke associations with the notorious allegations of the superiority of one group of people over all others.
The radical right has historically supported the concept of conferring exclusive powers and privileges on a small number of elected individuals. Such a structure of society is called elitism. This concept is rooted in the work of the famous philosopher Machiavelli, devoted to the art of government. From the point of view of the medieval thinker, the fate of the country depends only on the wisdom of the political elite, and the people are just a passive mass. This theory naturally leads to the justification and legalization of social discrimination. Machiavelli's ideas were further developed in the twentieth century, becoming part of the fascist system of views on the optimal structure of society.
Nativism
Without an explanation of this political concept, it is impossible to give an exhaustive answer to the question of who the ultra-right are. Nativism is a movement in defense of the interests of the indigenous inhabitants of any territory. This political position is often interpreted as hostility towards immigrants. Proponents of this ideology consider the term "nativism" negative and prefer to call their views patriotism. Their protests against immigration are based on a belief in the destructive influence of immigrants on existing cultural, social and religious values. Nativists believe that representatives of other ethnic groups, in principle, cannot be assimilated, since the traditions that have developed in society are foreign to them.
The difference between the extreme right and the Nazis
The most tragic example of discrimination in the history of mankind is genocide. Nazi ideas about the need to get rid of individual peoples and social groups led to their massive physical extermination. Charles Grant, director of the British Center for European Reform, said there were significant differences between ultra-right parties and fascism. In his opinion, far from all such political movements are radical and extremist in nature. An example is the French National Front. Another proof of the existence of a significant difference is the fact that many parties adhering to ultra-right ideology currently advocate economic concepts that are usually characteristic of left-wing socialists. They advocate protectionism, nationalization, and anti-globalism.
The so-called horseshoe theory, which was created by the French writer Jean-Pierre Fay, argues that the opposite ends of the political field are very similar to each other. Trying to determine the difference between the ultra-right and ultra-left, the author came to the conclusion that they are not antagonists in the full sense of the word. Moving away from the political center, representatives of the radical left and right currents come closer together like the ends of a horseshoe and reveal many common characteristics.
History
German researcher Klaus von Beime highlights three phases of the development of right-wing parties in Western Europe after the end of World War II. In the first decade after the defeat of Nazism, they turned into political marginals. The crimes of the Third Reich completely discredited the right ideology. During this historical period, the influence of adherents of these political views was zero and their main goal was to survive.
From the mid-50s to the end of the 70s of the last century, protest moods sharply intensified in Western Europe. Their reason was the growing distrust of the population in relation to state power. Voters opposed the current government and were ready to vote for any opposition movements. During this period, charismatic leaders appeared in the right-wing parties, who were able to some extent use the protest mood in society in their interests. Since the 80s of the last century, the influx of a large number of immigrants into Western European countries has caused constant discontent among some groups of the population. These citizens contributed to the revival of the right-wing parties by regularly casting their votes in the elections.
Reasons for Community Support
There are many theories that explain why such political movements enjoy the sympathy of the population. The most popular of them is based on a study of the reasons why Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany. It is called the theory of social decay. In accordance with this doctrine, the destruction of the traditional structure of society and the decrease in the role of religion lead to the loss of people's identity and lower self-esteem. In such historical periods, many become susceptible to the rhetoric of nationalist political movements, as simple and aggressive ethnocentric ideas help them regain a sense of belonging to a group. In other words, the growth of alienation and isolation in society is becoming fertile ground for the flourishing of right-wing parties.
It is worth noting that the theory of social decay has been repeatedly criticized and called into question. Her opponents point to the fact that the modern ultra-right in the United States and Western Europe put forward counteraction to immigration as the main point of their political program. They win the vote, focusing on long-overdue social contradictions, and not on psychological problems such as loss of identity and a sense of belonging to a group.
Terrorism
Throughout history, both left and right political movements have resorted to violent methods. Terrorist acts committed by representatives of radical nationalist and ethnocentric groups are sporadic in nature and do not give serious reasons to believe in the existence of international cooperation of extremist organizations of this type. The ranks of the far-right forces, ready to use violence, traditionally consist of football hooligans and so-called skinheads, whose subculture originated in the UK and is based on the idea of the superiority of the white race.
In Germany
In 2013, a faction of Euro-skeptics was formed in the Christian Democratic Union. This political group found support among the intellectual elite: economists, journalists, lawyers and businessmen. The new batch was called "Alternative for Germany." Its members criticize the current government for neglecting national interests for the sake of the European Union and advocate restricting immigration. According to the results of voting in the elections to the Bundestag in 2017, "Alternative for Germany" took third place in the number of deputies.
In France
The conservative party "National Front" was founded in 1972 by Jean-Marie Le Pen. For a long time, it was considered the most right-wing political movement in France. The National Front calls for a return to traditional values. The party’s program contains items requiring the cessation of immigration from Muslim countries, the restriction of abortion, the restoration of the death penalty and the withdrawal from NATO. The success of the National Front in parliamentary elections has remained modest for several decades. Currently, this party has 8 out of 577 deputy seats. During the tense presidential election in 2017, Marine Le Pen, the daughter of the founder of the National Front, was a serious competitor to Emmanuel Macron, who won by a small margin. Experts note that in France, the positions of left and right regarding some issues are gradually converging. The party of Le Penov in economic views becomes similar to the socialist.
In Great Britain
The most pronounced right-wing movement of the United Kingdom, as in France, is called the National Front. This party was formed as a result of the merger of several small radical political organizations. Representatives of the working class, who faced competition from immigrants on the labor market, became their main electorate. The "National Front" throughout the history of its existence has not received a single deputy mandate in the British Parliament. Opponents openly call it a neo-fascist party. Proponents of this political movement advocate racial segregation, support anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, and deny the Holocaust. They advocate the rejection of liberal democracy and the deportation from the United Kingdom of all immigrants whose skin color is not white. Gradually, the British "National Front" fell into decay and is now a small group that has almost no political influence.
In the United States
The oldest and legendary ultra-right organization in the United States is called the Ku Klux Klan. It was founded by opponents of the abolition of slavery after the end of the American Civil War. The main enemies of a deeply conspiratorial society were representatives of the Negroid race. In the early years of the organization, members of the Ku Klux Klan committed such a large number of killings and various acts of violence that the US government was forced to resort to using the army to curb their activities. Subsequently, the radical secret society fell into decay, but was reborn twice: at the beginning of the twentieth century and after the Second World War. Today, members of the Ku Klux Klan call themselves small groups of racists in the southern states.
