Far Right and Fascist Politics
Far right politics builds upon local prejudices, organises on a national, European and international political level and encourages a violent undercurrent of street activism. Here are some of the key themes and influences.
Main Stream UK Politics
The far right have been very successful in influencing main stream politics. Political parties in the UK have taken on board right wing agendas, particularly those of crime and immigration. Politicians have been open in pandering to the fascist threat and in failing to provide leadership and campaigning energy on the door step.
Racism has become an acceptable feature of British politics since the legislation in the ’60’s against immigration from black Commonwealth countries. Present trends lead to total support for "Fortress Europe" and to the denial of international obligations and basic human rights for refugees.
Europe and International Political Links
Right wing successes in Europe, e.g. support for le Pen in France and Haider in Austria, have encouraged UK fascist parties like the BNP to adopt similar strategies. The BNP failed, in the 2002 UK elections, to shake off its criminal image, though this was counteracted by success gained in some areas because local councillors had failed to canvas popular support.
Migration and Asylum Seekers
Far right political campaigning places emphasis upon nationalism, local economic interests and UK culture that is aggressively "white" or "Northern European." This has been no more so than with asylum-seekers.
- A "siege mentality" is created against the presence of groups from abroad. New ethnically distinct communities are said to threaten local culture and identity.
- Economic migration is always described as damaging to the financial well-being of the existing population, rather than acknowledging the contribution that migrants have always made to economy and culture in the UK.
- A Second class status is created, through government policy and by prejudice, leading to denial of basic human rights. In support of this, migrants are frequently described as thieves and criminal, interested solely in claiming welfare payments and "here under false pretences."
- Freely expressed political prejudice in the media creates a climate where immigration, police and welfare services are prone to "fall into line" and migrants are denied human rights and basic welfare. The consequence is to add to the existing national picture of racial discrimination both direct and structural.
Far Right Politics in the US
Events in the US have also exerted a strong influence upon the UK right and the wider political agenda. US far right politics has included the promotion of "White Power Music," a campaign for aggressive family values and the emergence of Christian Fundamentalism as a reactionary religious force.
- Christian fundamentalists have developed the use of mass media advertising campaigns and "call centre" telephone contact with potential voters. Fundamentalists have focused particularly upon family values, organise against women’s freedom and independence, and campaign against lesbian and gay rights.
- Racist policies have been aggressively pursued with campaigns against positive action and free cross border migration from south of the US border.
- White power music has been successful as a focus for racist and homophobic sentiments and in encouraging violent hate crime that has included bombings and shootings. White power music reflects all of these themes and they travel internationally through the sale of illegal CD’s.
Homophobia and Family Values in the UK
In Scotland, Brian Souter (millionaire owner of Stagecoach) provides an example of far right campaigning using US style fundamentalist tactics. In this case the favourite theme of homophobia and in support of anti-gay legislation.
Souter’s Christian fundamentalism denies equality to lesbians and gays, singling out education, particularly when dealing with relationships and sexuality, in his support of the retention of Clause 28.
Women’s Rights and Family Values
Family values is a theme that major political parties have also attempted to adopt in concentrating on "traditional roles" and attitudes to responsibilities. This inevitably disadvantages women and their struggle for independence and greater equality with men.
Hate Crime and Street Activism
One of the shared aims amongst far right political groups is to encourage hate crime against minorities. Popular prejudice, whipped up by the media and repeated by politicians and policy makers adds fuel to fascist and neo-nazi street activism.
Activism embraces racist street crime against black people, attacks on disabled people, violence against women and their independence, and attacks on lesbians and gays.
Violent activism extends to include the bombs in London directed at Black and Lesbian and Gay communities, threats against black public figures and their partners and towards mixed race relationships.
The map of politics in the UK places the British National Party (BNP) as the main far right political force in the UK. Its ability to mount a significant electoral presence in recent elections emphasises both its current strategy and its organisational resources. Its successes have been small even where it feels its strengths might be greatest.
For an up-to-date view of the BNP see the BBC Panorama web-based resource: BNP: under the skin
But this creates a view based soley on party-political organisation. Far right political sentiments do not depend on any one party and exert a general influence upon policy making, welfare and policing.
The UK
"As the century draws to a close Searchlight takes a retrospective look at British fascism. From the proto-fascist British Brothers League in 1901 to the British National Party in 1999 we provide a short history of the organisations whose main objective is to stir up racial hatred."
A Century of Fascism - Searchlight
The Far Right in Europe
"The scapegoating of immigrants and asylum seekers by the far right has brought - in some instances - rich political dividends. It explains, in large measure, the growth of the National Front in France, the Flemish Bloc in Belgium and - to a degree - the far-right National Alliance and the Northern League in Italy."
Analysis: EU’s forceful warning on Haider - BBC
A Map of Far Right Groups: Europe’s Far Right
Austria and the Haider Factor: Special report - BBC
UN links globalisation to racism: Mary Robinson’s May Day Call to Action
Clause 28 and Souter’s Referendum: BBC News Article
Amnesty International Annual Report: Refugee Protection under Attack
Stop this Bogus Tabloid Nationalism: CARF