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This reproduction is the best copy available University of Alberta The Challenge of Militant Right-Whg Exîremism to Contemporary Social Movement Theory by Xavier Caüarinich O A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research ia partial fùlfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Edmonton, AIberta Fd 1998 National Liirary Bibliottièque nationale 1*1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Senrices services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington OtEawaûN KIAW Ottawa ON KIAW Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une Licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliothéque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la fome de rnicrofiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. The author ofthis thesis constnicts a synthetic model of Right-hg (White supremacist) movement emergence by discussing and criticizing the propositions of the I&g social movement tesearch paradigms (the new social movement paradigm, the resourct mobilizaîion paradigm, and relative deprivation theory) in Iight of existing empirical work on German and Amencan Right-wing movements. Right-wing movements arise when a politicai opportunity converges with broad stnictural change. Structural changes ofien manifest themselves as challenges to the estabiished cultural repeftoires of specinc collecîivities. "nireatened" social pupsexperience culnirat crises in tenns of relative deprivation, which provides the impetus for social movement formation, Groups that are able to muster adequate material to resources are more Iikely to adopt an organizationd form and pursue action at, the institutional level, whereas groups that are Iacking in material resources are more Iikely to pursue noninstitutional action. Tbt: model requires fùrther research for empirical confirmation- Fiiand foremost, 1 must thank Dr. Stephen Kent for his tirne, for his for his valuable insights, and for his eenciship. 1 aiso thank the other memben of the defence cornmiaee, Dr. William lohnston and Dr. Matthias Zimmer, for their he1pfi.d advice and comments. 1 achowledge the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research and the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta, both of which provided me with the firnds necessary to pursue my studies on a hii-tirne basis. 1 recognize the assistance 1 reccived hmDr. James Frideres at The University of Caigary, who every year invariably and enthusiastically Wfites the glowing reference letters thai help me obtain my fiinding. I am gratefiil for the advice and encouragement that 1 received £iom fellow graduate students, faculty, and the department's support staff (Dr. ludith Golec, Dr. Joane Martel, and Lynn Van Reede in particdar). Last, but certainly not Ieast, 1 thank fnends and hily@ou know who you are) for their support, which 1 all tw oiten take for &ranted Xavier Caüarînich August, 1998 TABLE OP CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: iNTRODUCL1ON AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Statement of the Research Problem The Components of 'Right-Wing Thoughtn and *Extremisrnn Right-Wig Extremism and Xenophobic Violence Th-ry Conventional Approaches to Racist Movement. The Concept of *Social Movement" Right-Wing Extremism and Social Movement Theory New Social Movemeat Theory Resource Mobilization Tbeory Toward A Synthetic Social Movement Research Paradigm? Objectives of the Study: A Summary CHAPTER 2: A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENT PARADIGM New Social Movemeots: Eight Identifying Characteristics The Demographic and Social Bases of Movement Participation Ideological Pluralism Sym bolic Vs. Material Concerus Individual Action Right-Wig Extremism and the Personal Nonviolent Protest? Political Discontent Düïusioa and Decentralhtion The Core Propositions of NSM Theory Proposition #l: The emergence of NSMs in the Western worZd is related to the advent of a posr-inrhrsaial saciety rhere Proposition #2: Al1 social niovemen& are engaged in the same social co@ict Summary and Observations CHAPTER 3: A CRITTCAL EVALUATION OFTHE RESOURCE MOBILIZATION PARADIGM The Propositious of RM Theory The Context of Social Movement Action The Similarities Between Institutional and Non~tutionalColIective Action Resource Mobilization Theory and Rational Choice Grievances and Social Movement Formation Social Movement. Resources, Organization, and Opportunities Social Movement Success Social Movement. and Formai Organizations A Few Remarks Concerning Criticisrns of RM Theory Political Process Theory Charles Tlly and Repertoires of Contention Political Opportunity Structures Political Opportunity Structure and Right-Wmg Violence in Cermany Political Opportunity Structure and American Right-Wiag Extremism A Note on Political Opportunity Structures and NSM Theory The Framing Perspective Summary and Observations CHAPTER 4: CULTURE AND RELATIVE DEPRIVATION The Pedormative View of Culture Relative Deprivation Tbeory Relative Deprivation Tbeory and RightWmg Extremism Criticisrns of Relative Deprivation Theory The Relationship Between Culture and Relative Deprivation The Amencan Contert The German Context The Continuity Between Mainstream Culture and Right-Wing Extremist Cultures Summary and Observations A Review of the Main Assumptions and Propositions Assumptioru Propositions Levets of Analysis and Metatheoretical Presuppositions The Role of Culture in a Synthetic Social Movement Research Paradigm MictP-Stractriral Factors and Rigbt-Wiog Ertremism Summary and Observations CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION Implications of the Study Scholarly Implications Practical Implications Suggestions for Furtber Research ENDNOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY Literature Cited Further Readhgs LIST OF FIGURES Fire 1: Syuthetic Mode1 of Right-W'mg Movement Emergence Cha~ter1: Introduction and Review of the Literature Statemeat of the Research Problem In 1993, Tore Bjérgo and Rob Witte (1 993: 15) noted the paucity of comparative international research th& existed in the field of racist violence at the the. They defined racist violence as "any violence [terrorist attacks, street violence, vandaiism of property, threats, and verbaI abuse and gestures] in which vicths are selected because of their ethnic, 'racial', religious, culiurai or national origin" @j#rgo and Witte, 1993:6). ïhey added: The victims are attacked not in their capacities as individuals, but as representatives of such groups which are nonnally minorities in terms of numbers as well as in tenns of power. Buildings, properties and institutions may &O be attacked because they represent tbese groups or their interests. (Bjgkgo and Witte, 19935) mermearchers refw to racist violence as hate crimes (Levin and McDevitt, 1993) or xenophobic violence (Watts, 1997). 1 will use these tenns interchangeably throughout this thesis. Since Bjgrgo and Witte first observed the lack of comparative research that de& with racist violence, academics have published a number of volumes that the authors purport are "comparativen and "international" on the bmader subject of Right-wing extremism, which is often impiicitly related to racist violence (e.g., see BjCrgo, 1995b; Braun and Scheinberg, 1997; I(itschelt, 1995; Merkl and Weinberg, 1993, 1997). Although Michi Ebata (1 997b: 13) states that "Right-wing extremism is a broad concept that is not static or precise," he offers a working definition of Right-wing extremism that 1 wüi adopt throughout this thesis. According to Ebata (1997b): Right-wing extremists are identifieci fhtand foremost by their hdamental expression of haîrai, bigotry, or prejudice mted in an "ideology of inequality." ïbk hatred is an expression of a worldview that divides society into those who belong and those who do not. It is specifically manifestefi as racism, xenophobia, homophobia, misogyny, and rctigious intolerance. In most cases it is atso directed specificaIIy aga& the state. (pp. 13-14) Ebata (199% 18) acknowledges that these characteristics arc not necessarily exclusive to the extrcme Right. He argues that the distinguisbmg factor between Right-wing extremists on the one hand, and neoconservatives and Lefi-wing radicals who incorporate various themes of intolerance in their respeçtive discourses on the other, is that the former rely on fàscjsm as a source of historical Uupirafion(Ebata, 1997bS 1). Drawing on the work of Ne1O' Suilivan among other schoIars, Ebata (1 997b2 1) defmes firscism as "air ideology based on natural history, the pursuit of an acpausiomry and aggressive geopokical policy, and corporate statism," More specificaiiy The state serves one homogeneous ethnic grouping and amis to reincorporate and reunite any members of that gmuping locaîed outside its borders. Fascism is furchermore identifid with a cultist worship of and obedience to a charismatic leader, total devotion to the state, an admiration of strength accompanied