White Pride World Wide: A Contemporary History of Online, International Right-wing Extremist Ideology and Culture

Abstract

Since 1995, advances in internet communications technology have led to more extensive interaction between right-wing extremists around the world. The wider extreme-right movement around the globe has become more homogenous, internationally-minded, and Americanized in recent years due to the rise of websites and forums such as Stormfront.org. However, ideological and cultural cleavages still remain as barriers to full cohesion between disparate strains of right-wing extremism. This study briefly outlines the history of international right-wing extremist ideology and culture, with a particular focus on developments in these areas after the establishment of Stormfront in 1995. Through the ideographical and inductive analysis of forum posts and website content, the intention of this thesis is to demonstrate that right-wing extremists in the contemporary period are part of an internationally-minded subculture which has been largely overlooked or misunderstood by scholars, politicians, and media outlets. Furthermore, this analysis seeks to underscore the threats to peace and coexistence posed by the violence and hatred inherent in this global subculture.