INTERSECTIONAL HATE: RACE, GENDER AND VIOLENCE ON THE TRANSATLANTIC EXTREME-RIGHT, 1969-2009 A dissertation presented By Simon A. Purdue To The Department of History In partiaL fulfiLLment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of PhiLosophy In the fieLd of World History Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts ApriL 2021 1 INTERSECTIONAL HATE: RACE, GENDER AND VIOLENCE ON THE TRANSATLANTIC EXTREME-RIGHT, 1969-2009 A dissertation presented By Simon A. Purdue ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION To The Department of History Submitted in partiaL fulfiLLment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of PhiLosophy in World History in the ColLege of SociaL Science and the Humanities of Northeastern University ApriL 2021 2 Abstract This dissertation seeks to get to the core of the racist extremist sociaL structure, focusing on the intimate and personaL politics of the movement and shifting our understanding of the neo-fascist weltanschauung on a globaL leveL. I explore the sociaL, politicaL and ideologicaL motivators that drive people towards the extreme-right and ultimateLy dictate their actions and beLiefs once they are firmLy within the movement, and my research highlights important trends and patterns that can have reaL-World impacts. For example, by exploring the intricacies of far-right masculinities in historicaL context we can determine key factors contributing to radicaLization towards violence, and can isolate particular warning signs that may be of great use to the professionaL Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) community. This dissertation is highly interdisciplinary and bridges the gap betWeen academia and an important nexus of policy, violence prevention, and security. My dissertation research has explored the intersection betWeen race and gender on the globaL extreme-right betWeen 1969 and 2009. By examining the publications of violent extremist groups in the United States and United Kingdom, I offer a transatLantic historicaL anaLysis of the Ways in which gender was constructed and defined on the extremist fringe. I explore the ways in Which group leadership defined the identity of White femininity in opposition to White masculinity, and how Black and JeWish masculinity was constructed as a direct threat to White Womanhood by members of these groups. ULtimateLy I argue that these writers and activists mobiLized ideaLized images of both masculinity and femininity as both propaganda and as a deLiberate limitation on the role of women within their movement. These groups promoted an 3 image of a moraLLy pure, dutiful mother in order to portray women as potentiaL victims – thereby justifying retributive and pre-emptive violence - and to limit their engagement to reproduction and home-making. However, by incorporating the writing of women within the movement and Looking at the many magazines and neWsLetters published and distributed by groups such as the Women’s Aryan Union and Patriotic Women’s Front, I suggest that more often than not women Within racist extremism rejected these restrictions and engaged in more direct activism through publishing, organizing, netWork-buiLding and even violence. In doing so, white supremacist Women were able to forge their own paths within the movement, often reaching senior positions and gaining significant degrees of influence in their extremist circLes. Despite maLe activists’ attempts to circumscribe it, I show, women’ racist activism has and continues to be both significant and dangerous. 4 Dedicated to the activists and anti-fascists who put themseLves in danger on a daiLy basis to counter and combat the rising tide of hatred around the world. Despite the constant threat of doxxing, harassment, abuse and even deadly violence, they hold fast as the first and last line of defense against violent racist extremism. Their work too often goes unnoticed and even persecuted, and we owe them a great deaL of gratitude. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements 7 Introduction 13 Chapter 1 ‘A battLe of the groin’: The Reproductive Politics of the GLobaL Extreme-Right, 1969-2009 35 Chapter 2 A NeW Homo-Fascistus?: MaLe FundamentaLism, MartiaL Masculinity, and Extreme-Right Visions of Modern Manhood 76 Chapter 3 “Tomorrow BeLongs to Her”: Women’s Violent Activism on the Extreme-Right 116 Chapter 4 Useful Victims: Symbolic Rage and Racist Violence on the GLobaL Extreme-Right 145 Epilogue – Making A Martyr 176 Bibliography 182 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation is the product of five years of constant learning and both personaL and professionaL growth, and it would not have been possible if it were not for aLL the people who offered their heLp, support and expertise throughout the process. From those who heLped me shape the topic and refine my research skiLLs, to those who heLped me weather the rough seas of Life as an underpaid and overworked PhD student, I have made it this far on the backs of others, and I am eternaLLy grateful. FirstLy, I would like to thank Gretchen Heefner, who braveLy took me on as her first PhD student three years ago and who heLped me shape this project from its nascent stages. Gretchen’s insight, patience, advice, and feedback were invaLuable as this project evolved from a loose concept into the manuscript you now hold. Her emphasis on story-teLLing and a compeLLing narrative heLped transform this piece into something much more readable than it otherwise would have been, and her wiLLingness to pulL me out of the cLouds of high theory kept both me and this project grounded throughout. I would aLso like to thank the other members of my committee, Timothy Brown and Heather Streets-SaLter. Both Tim and Heather have been immenseLy heLpful throughout my graduate career, guiding me through my comprehensive exams and offering vaLuable insight as I formulated my research topic. Furthermore, Tim and Heather have both given their time and energy in guiding me through publishing, the academy, and the job search, and have offered their support and practicaL heLp in difficult times. Thank you aLso to the other current and former faculty in the history department at Northeastern Who have heLped me deveLop my research and teaching skiLLs over the last five years, and who 7 have aLWays been wiLLing to have a chat about my research when I needed to taLk it through. In particular I would like to thank Tom Havens, PhiLLip Thai, Laura Frader, Victoria Cain, Christopher Parsons, Marty Blatt and Harlow Robinson. I would aLso like to thank Suzanna WaLters and Miranda Outman for the heLp they offered during my time working for Signs and Moya BaiLey for her advice and assistance whiLe I worked on the #Hashtag Activism project. Thanks must aLso go to Richard FreeLand, who kindly offered me work when I needed it and who has been a constant source of support since my first year at Northeastern. SpeciaL thanks is aLso due to the administrative staff in the history department, specificaLLy Bonne and Kirsten who have aLWays been there to offer their advice or heLp even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. I owe a great deaL of gratitude to the feLLow graduate students and early career scholars who have heLped me through the last five years. In particular, I would like to thank the graduate students Who I worked with during my time at Northeastern, aLL of whom have been a source of great joy even through the most stressful and difficult portions of the PhD. My cohort of Luke ScaLone, WiLL WhitWorth and ALLison Chapin have been there since the days of Monday night trivia, and We have gone through this process together the whole way. Jamie Parker and Matt Bowser offered their mentorship in my first semester, and their friendship ever since. SpeciaL thanks must aLso go to my officemates over the last five years – Dave DeCamp, OLivier Schouteden, and Adam Tomasi – Who have put up with the ranting, the muttering, the constant meetings, and the ever-present smeLL of coffee. To aLL those who heLped me refine my topic, gave me a platform to taLk about my work, and offered their insights into the various issues I grappled with over the last five years, you have made me the scholar I am today, and without you this project would be a 8 shadow of what it is now. SpecificaLLy I would like to thank James Robinson, MaLcolm Purinton, Caroline KLibanoff, Kara ZeLasko, Bridget Keown, Thanasis Kinias, and Aaron Peterka, aLL of Whom have offered their invaLuable advice and support over the last five years. I would aLso like to thank the folks at both the Centre for AnaLysis of the RadicaL Right and the Institute for Research on MaLe Supremacism who have offered expertise, insight, and opportunities to publish my thoughts. I would like to specificaLLy thank the folks in the CARR Gender Research Unit, aLL of whom have been a source of encouragement and inspiration. Thanks must aLso go to the undergraduate students who took my cLass on the globaL far-right in 2019 and 2020. Together we unpacked the ever-evolving landscape of far-right ideology, culture and violence, and the finaL essays were some of the best I have ever read. Their insight, inteLLigence and desire to learn drove me to be the best teacher I could be, and I can honestLy say that my students had a major impact on my own research. It was a priviLege to teach every single one of them. I would like to give a speciaL mention to Steve and aLL the former staff at Punter’s on Huntington Avenue. The grimy tables, the shower geL where soap should have been in the bathrooms, the $9 pitchers. ALL of it came together to create a place packed with good memories, and not a Friday night on campus goes by in which I don’t wish I could go back.