Strands of Nationalism: Theory and Application

Abstract

The chapter delves into the strands of nationalism that exist in contemporary politics and explains the roots of nationalism as an ideology and practice. Global nationalist movements and politics are examined in this chapter, including the Kurdish conflict, and the electoral politics of Geert Wilders (the Netherlands), Marine Le Pen (France), and the implications of the Brexit vote ushering in an era of Conservative politics in the UK. The origins of the Alt-Right ideology, which is heavily informed by varying concepts of nationalism are explored, including prominent figures such as Richard Spencer and Jared Taylor. In the “Internet as a Nationalist Tool” section, the shifting media structure and influence of digital culture on politics and ideology is explained.