The Victim Ideology of White Supremacists and White Separatists in the United States

Abstract

In this paper, I examine the ideology of white supremacists and separatists, which portrays Whites as “victims.” I first review several convergences in the recent literature on white supremacist discourse. I argue that the “victim ideology” has been discussed frequently, but generally only in passing, and in the service of other arguments. Following the approach to victimology suggested by Holstein and Miller (1990) I present an empirical constructionist analysis of these “victim claims,” breaking them down into five themes — (1) discrimination, (2) rights abrogations, (3) stigmatization and the denial of pride, (4) loss of self-esteem, and (5) racial elimination. I conclude with some comments on the theoretical and social role of this ideology, and its use as a recruiting tool for the contemporary white supremacist and separatist movement.

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