Associate Professor Westfield State University Westfield, Massachusetts, United States
Overview: The Integrative Sociopolitical and Psychological Analysis model is introduced to examine nationalism, nativism, and populism in Europe and the United States. The processes involved in the mobilization of large, group identities, with a focus on transnational, white power movements, the radicalization of white youth, and identity-driven violence will be explored.Proposal text:
Purpose: This paper introduces an Integrative Sociopolitical and Psychological Analysis model, ISPA, to examine contemporary rising ideologies in Europe and the United States-specifically nationalism, nativism, and populism. The processes involved in the construction and sociopolitical mobilization of large, group identities are presented, with a focus on transnational, European, and American white power movements, and the radicalization of white youth. Its violent manifestations, in the form of xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and racism, including terrorist attacks, are explored through the ISPA model. Possible macro and micro-level social work interventions are also identified to address societal polarization and decrease the radicalization risk of white identified youth in the U. S and Europe.
Background: Far-right, radical right, populist, nationalist, and nativist parties, and movements now pervade the sociopolitical arena in Europe and the United States. Many of these movements and/or parties use divisive, racist, xenophobic, anti-Semitic, and Islamophobic rhetoric to delineate who belongs and who does not belong to a particular society and nation-state.
Methods: Political psychology and Critical Historical Discourse Analysis are introduced through the ISPA model, to discuss the formation of national and psychological borders and their manifestations— including dynamics of identity formation and aggression. Transnational white power movements and the radicalization of white youth will be examined from a sociopolitical and psychological perspective, as well as the violence perpetrated and incited by these groups.
Conclusion: The connection between the rise of subjugating ideologies, and unprocessed historical collective traumas is highlighted. The role of identity transformation and collective mourning, and its link to, the current rise of transnational white power movements, the radicalization rates of white youth, and domestic terrorism against the “ethnic/racial/religious/immigrant other,” is explained. Macro and micro-level social work interventions are also presented.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to identify the connection between the rise of subjugating ideologies, and unprocessed historical collective traumas.
Upon completion, participants will be able to discuss the role of identity transformation and collective mourning, and its link to the current rise of transnational white power movements and domestic terrorism.
Upon completion, participants will be able to understand the processes involved in the radicalization of white youth.
