In the highly stabilized, well defined, highly tolerant American culture, which boasts a very high rate of education, how is it possible for neo-Nazi groups to recruit new members? Why would someone be attracted by such a horrifying ideology?
The methods of neo-Nazi recruitment have been well refined over the years of the movement's existence. As stated in the video, neo-Nazi's communicate with a highly impressionable population of American youth through multiple highly accessible media.
It is highly ironic and perhaps a bit depressing that, the methods with which neo-Nazi groups connect with prospective members is completely legal within the United States. The laws of freedom of expression, which exist to instill tolerance in the American public, are the very laws which allow for such racist groups to recruit and grow.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
International Neo-Nazism
The presence of neo-Nazism in the United states has been established, but the membership in these organizations remains low enough that neo-Nazi and other neo-Fascist groups do not wield much political or social power. The social effects of neo-Nazism in America are felt, but the people most drawn to the groups are social extremists, and the neo-Nazi realm is on the fringe of today's society.
I've found through my research that neo-Nazism has a much more prevalent role in countries and cultures which have undergone significant struggles in recent history and/or have a relatively large population of poverty stricken people and/or have witnessed severe shifts in ideologies. These countries often have a very large racist or xenophobic population, which is the center of the neo-Nazi ideology.
This video segment of a documentary about skinheads in Moscow is a fascinating look into a culture which is extremely susceptible to the neo-Nazi subculture. It is interesting to note that the xenophobic and racist views of the people usually are preexisting.
Even in this situation, in a poverty-stricken country like Russia, the membership in this neo-Nazi group is very small and it has no political power. The group is more of a place for disenfranchised members of society can come and feel as though they are doing something with a purpose.
I've found through my research that neo-Nazism has a much more prevalent role in countries and cultures which have undergone significant struggles in recent history and/or have a relatively large population of poverty stricken people and/or have witnessed severe shifts in ideologies. These countries often have a very large racist or xenophobic population, which is the center of the neo-Nazi ideology.
This video segment of a documentary about skinheads in Moscow is a fascinating look into a culture which is extremely susceptible to the neo-Nazi subculture. It is interesting to note that the xenophobic and racist views of the people usually are preexisting.
Even in this situation, in a poverty-stricken country like Russia, the membership in this neo-Nazi group is very small and it has no political power. The group is more of a place for disenfranchised members of society can come and feel as though they are doing something with a purpose.
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