Neo-Nazism and National Conservatism

Chicago, 1976 A few hundred people, mostly men, have gathered in Marquette Park. Some wear brown uniforms, swastikas, and the words White Power. They shout their hatred of black people and Jews, and yell Sieg heil. This is the extreme political right, the white power movement - they are neo-Nazis. Meanwhile, young working-class boys in England hang out in gangs, dress in - boots and bomber jackets, and listen to ska and punk.

Many are unemployed, poor, and angry. They shave their heads, and are called skinheads. Many skinheads are attracted to neo-Nazism. Neo-Nazis, meanwhile, are inspired by the skinheads' strong and aggressive style. Similar movements emerge in Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia.

What they have in common is their hostility towards immigrants, Muslims, Jews, gay people and socialists. Many neo-Nazis openly praise Adolf Hitler and use Nazi and Old Norse symbols, such as the swastika, the odal rune, the tyrrune, the wolf hook and the sun cross. Others support Nazism in secret. Anti-Semitism is an important part of neo-Nazism. Many right-wing extremists claim that the Holocaust during World War II did not happen.

They are Holocaust deniers. Others acknowledge the Holocaust, and praise it. A common conspiracy theory among neo-Nazis is that influential Jews own all the banks, and secretly control the world economy and the governments of several countries. The neo-Nazis call this imaginary group of Jews the Zionist Occupation Government, ZOG. During the 1980s, neo-Nazism grows stronger.

Movements become organized and even cooperate internationally. Several groups prepare for a race war. They vandalize Jewish cemeteries and synagogues, abuse immigrants and carry out terrorist acts: 1980 In Bologna, Italy, a bomb explodes at the train station. 85 die, 200 injured. In Munich, Germany, 13 people are killed and over 200 injured in a bomb attack at a festival.

1984 In Denver, USA, a famous Jewish radio presenter is killed. In 1989, the Berlin Wall falls. Soon, the Soviet Union collapses. Neo-Nazism spreads eastward. In the former communist countries, neo-Nazis, old KGB agents, and orthodox Christian nationalists unite in their hatred of the United States, Jews and migrants from the Middle East and Africa.

Neo-Nazis begin organizing politically in several countries. They run in democratic elections. However, Neo-Nazi parties are not very successful. People dislike Nazi slogans and violence. Their political ideas, however, are adopted by other parties, both new and old: nationalism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, abortion resistance, homophobia, mistrust of the media and the democratic system.

They often call themselves nationalists, or national conservatives. By their political opponents, these parties are called right-wing extremists, xenophobic and populist. After the turn of the millennium, more people flee the Middle East and North Africa to Europe and North America. At the same time, support for "national conservative" parties increases. Parties previously considered extreme gain acceptance and win seats in European parliaments.

Hate speech, threats, prejudice and conspiracy theories spread on social media. Attacks on mosques, synagogues and Jewish cemeteries become more common. In Moscow, Russia, a man storms into a synagogue and stabs 8 people. In Oslo, Norway, an Islamophobic right-wing extremist kills 77 people and injures 319. In Pittsburgh, USA, 11 people are killed and 6 injured in a synagogue attack.

In Halle, Germany, a neo-Nazi kills two people celebrating the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. Charlottesville, USA, 2017. A few hundred people, mostly men, gather in Emancipation Park. Some wear brown uniforms, swastikas, and the words White Power. They shout their hatred of black people and Jews.

They scream Sieg Heil. It has been 72 years since the Nazis were defeated in World War II, but many ideas about the superiority of white people still live on..