‘New Nationalism’ Amounts to Generic White-Identity Politics...By Jonah Goldberg

[mystery-ak]

 ‘New Nationalism’ Amounts to Generic White-Identity Politics

The consensus that voters are revolting against economic conditions ignores other ways that they expect Trump to protect America.

By Jonah Goldberg — August 17, 2016

To listen to both his defenders and critics, Donald Trump represents the U.S. version of a new nationalism popping up around the world. I’m not so sure.

In a fairly representative analysis, Politico’s Michael Hirsh explained the “new nationalism” as “a bitter populist rejection of the status quo that global elites have imposed on the international system since the Cold War ended, and which lower-income voters have decided — understandably — is unfair.”

James P. Pinkerton, writing for the stridently pro-Trump website Breitbart News, sees nothing less than a “Worldwide Trumpian Majority” forming to oppose globalization in all its forms.

Interestingly, commentators across the ideological spectrum also agree that these trends are fueled by economic conditions — manifested here as outrage at Wall Street and global trade deals — and can be solved by some government response. Both Trump and Hillary Clinton offer similar solutions, such as more trade barriers and massive infrastructure spending.

That interpretation is fine as far as it goes, but I don’t think it goes very far. Ultimately, the term “nationalism” distorts more than it clarifies about what’s going on with Trump supporters in the United States.

more
http://www.nationalreview.com/node/439048/print

[Idaho_Cowboy]

By ‘nationalism’ I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labelled ‘good’ or ‘bad’(1). But secondly — and this is much more important — I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognising no other duty than that of advancing its interests. Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved. By ‘patriotism’ I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.
-George Orwell
http://orwell.ru/library/essays/nationalism/english/e_nat

I think in a sense a large part of Trump supporters are nationalists.

[dfwgator]

I use Savage's criteria that Nationalism is about preserving Borders, Language and Culture.  We are bringing in people who want to change all three.

[geronl]

Trump is a globalist

[guitar4jesus]

Trump is a globalist

Correct.

[Fishrrman]

‘New Nationalism’ Amounts to Generic White-Identity Politics...

Got news for ya'll.

All that "American Nationalism" pretty much from 1776 on was "white identity politics", of the original blend.

Because -- excluding the slaves, "America" was a nation of white folks, so much so that the word "white" wasn't needed by default. It just was.

Better get used to this.
If a second Reagan suddenly appeared on the political scene, saying EXACTLY what the first one did, he'd now be branded as a white-identity nationalist, too.

[sinkspur]

‘New Nationalism’ Amounts to Generic White-Identity Politics...

Got news for ya'll.

All that "American Nationalism" pretty much from 1776 on was "white identity politics", of the original blend.

Because -- excluding the slaves, "America" was a nation of white folks, so much so that the word "white" wasn't needed by default. It just was.

Better get used to this.
If a second Reagan suddenly appeared on the political scene, saying EXACTLY what the first one did, he'd now be branded as a white-identity nationalist, too.

Yep.  There was that matter of those pesky slaves.

Reagan was not a nationalist, nor was he anything like a white-identity politician.

But Trump is, and you're going to ride to the bottom with this racist.

[musiclady]

I use Savage's criteria that Nationalism is about preserving Borders, Language and Culture.  We are bringing in people who want to change all three.

How is Savage the 'expert' you look to for your definition.

The more appropriate definition usually involves some form of racism.....

[Oceander]

‘New Nationalism’ Amounts to Generic White-Identity Politics...

Got news for ya'll.

All that "American Nationalism" pretty much from 1776 on was "white identity politics", of the original blend.

Because -- excluding the slaves, "America" was a nation of white folks, so much so that the word "white" wasn't needed by default. It just was.

Better get used to this.
If a second Reagan suddenly appeared on the political scene, saying EXACTLY what the first one did, he'd now be branded as a white-identity nationalist, too.

Is that you, David Duke?

[musiclady]

Yep.  There was that matter of those pesky slaves.

Reagan was not a nationalist, nor was he anything like a white-identity politician.

But Trump is, and you're going to ride to the bottom with this racist.

Never heard a single word from Reagan that smacked of nationalism or racism.

The bogus comparison of Trump to Reagan is getting sickening.

There couldn't be more difference between two men than there is between those two.

[musiclady]

Is that you, David Duke?

The dark underbelly of a minority of 'conservatives' is rearing its ugly head in this election.

Trump has made it acceptable to be a white supremacist......

[HonestJohn]

America has always been a nation that lived in the mind and the heart, not the blood and the soil.

This belief that America is defined by borders and language is the misbegotten filth left over after WWII.  It's the 'Blut und Boden' espoused by Carl Schmitt, which required loyalty to the 'Volk' over the abstract ideals that are the foundation of America.

That Trump supporters favor the 'Blut und Boden' over the foundational concepts of America itself is very telling.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_and_Soil

[Idaho_Cowboy]

‘New Nationalism’ Amounts to Generic White-Identity Politics...

Got news for ya'll.

All that "American Nationalism" pretty much from 1776 on was "white identity politics", of the original blend.

Because -- excluding the slaves, "America" was a nation of white folks, so much so that the word "white" wasn't needed by default. It just was.

Better get used to this.
If a second Reagan suddenly appeared on the political scene, saying EXACTLY what the first one did, he'd now be branded as a white-identity nationalist, too.

I'm sorry I couldn't make that out. The white hood muffles everything.

[TomSea]

Wanting secured borders is not globalist.

Having leaders from China or Mexico criticizing him does not seem globalist.

Putting America first is not globalist.

[TomSea]

I use Savage's criteria that Nationalism is about preserving Borders, Language and Culture.  We are bringing in people who want to change all three.

I'd agree with that.

According to Goldberg and others, it seems trying to preserve the American way is racist.

I have sympathy for others, for all people, don't get me wrong.

[TomSea]

America has always been a nation that lived in the mind and the heart, not the blood and the soil.

This belief that America is defined by borders and language is the misbegotten filth left over after WWII.  It's the 'Blut und Boden' espoused by Carl Schmitt, which required loyalty to the 'Volk' over the abstract ideals that are the foundation of America.

That Trump supporters favor the 'Blut und Boden' over the foundational concepts of America itself is very telling. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_and_Soil

So what is one saying? There should be no borders?

What are those foundational concepts?

Gee, Ronald Reagan said " A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.” Naughty, naughty Dutch! Naughty, naughty the Gipper.

It sounds exactly like one is saying there should be no borders but we have to endure this kind of attack on anyone that wants to preserve America for what it is.

"Blood and soil", well, a lot of people wanted Scotland to secede, they voted for Great Britain to secede.

These are not altogether bad things to do.

Put some German in there but to be fair, Pat Buchanan has used that expression himself in making a point.

Sorry, I don't want to become a country like Brazil, a nuclear power by the way so, not altogether backward but they can't control the Favelas, their ghettoes, the police kill street urchins and orphans, this is what we get if we are being so open borders.

Sickening.

[TomSea]

By ‘nationalism’ I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labelled ‘good’ or ‘bad’(1). But secondly — and this is much more important — I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognising no other duty than that of advancing its interests. Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved. By ‘patriotism’ I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.
-George Orwell
http://orwell.ru/library/essays/nationalism/english/e_nat

I think in a sense a large part of Trump supporters are nationalists.

Wow, you'd think being a Nationalist was bad. And with some people, they think it is, I think this kind of thought unsavory, people should be proud of their country.

[TomSea]

I'm sorry I couldn't make that out. The white hood muffles everything.

Wow, just wow.

I hope this forum lives up to being a "Conservative Forum", not Democratic Underground 2.0.

And listening to Mark Levin last night , for his fans, I think he might peek in at this forum.

Oh, Mark Levin, shows himself with an American flag. Unfortunately, it seems that's a bad thing to some.

[TomSea]

‘New Nationalism’ Amounts to Generic White-Identity Politics...

Got news for ya'll.

All that "American Nationalism" pretty much from 1776 on was "white identity politics", of the original blend.

Because -- excluding the slaves, "America" was a nation of white folks, so much so that the word "white" wasn't needed by default. It just was.

Better get used to this.
If a second Reagan suddenly appeared on the political scene, saying EXACTLY what the first one did, he'd now be branded as a white-identity nationalist, too.

True; deportations as happened under Ike, Truman and Roosevelt would be racist today.

Well said.

It's good now, we are seeing how Hate of Trump outweighs Love of Country and we see scoundrels echoing views that are not conservative at all; they are not conservatives and you can say they even hate the country. People like Goldberg.

[Jazzhead]

Another insightful column - as usual - by Jonah Goldberg.   I agree that Trump isn't pushing "nationalism", but white identity politics.   In that way, he's as bad or worse than the Dems, who've insisted on the primacy of racial or tribal identity for years to divide and conquer. 

Is there anyone left anymore who agrees with Dr. King that we should be judged as individuals, by the content of our characters?  Now Trump wants to make over the Republican party (and by extension, conservatism) as just another lobby for tribal identity - this time, for white people.

Well, what's wrong is wrong.  If we condemn the Democrat race pimps,  then so should we condemn the Trumpian variety.   He wants just as much as Al Sharpton to start a race war.   That's un-American.   

 

[Jazzhead]

It's good now, we are seeing how Hate of Trump outweighs Love of Country and we see scoundrels echoing views that are not conservative at all; they are not conservatives and you can say they even hate the country. People like Goldberg.

Hate of Trump IS Love of Country.   

Trump's racialism is no different than Al Sharpton's, and just as dangerous.     

[TomSea]

Brexit shows this whole "celebrate diversity" is a liberal extreme leftist claptrap. Yet, Britons don't want to become a minority in their own country. 

You know what country is poised to merge to the front of Europe? Poland, having strict immigration laws and growing, let's see how Poland looks 50 years from now, compared to Germany where folks are so upset that Merkel has let in all of these Syrian refugees.

You really think we want to go Germany's way?? Are they becoming more American?

This is really incoherent.

[ABX]

Wow, you'd think being a Nationalist was bad. And with some people, they think it is, I think this kind of thought unsavory, people should be proud of their country.

You are confusing Nationalism with Patriotism.  Nationalism generally equates to collectivism, where the nation supplants individual rights for the collective good.  In the US, we've always walked that fine line but individual rights have always been the default importance- it has been what has made our national identity unique.

As even Rush has pointed out, our politics and identity is becoming a lot more European in the sense that Nationalism (ie national collectivism) is supplanting individual rights. The Right in our country is becoming more like the Right in Europe versus here. The Right in the US is becoming less and less about smaller/limited/Constitutional government and more about an authoritarian government that hammers our own issues (thus the 'European Right' similarity).  Our national identity is becoming what our government can do, not the liberty of the individual.

The more authoritarian and centralized the government becomes, no matter if it comes from the Right or the Left, the less the individual matters.

So yes, in that way, Nationalism does become a 'dirty word' and should to liberty minded Conservatives.

[dfwgator]

As even Rush has pointed out, our politics and identity is becoming a lot more European in the sense that Nationalism (ie national collectivism) is supplanting individual rights. The Right in our country is becoming more like the Right in Europe versus here. The Right in the US is becoming less and less about smaller/limited/Constitutional government and more about an authoritarian government that hammers our own issues (thus the 'European Right' similarity).  Our national identity is becoming what our government can do, not the liberty of the individual.
 

I think a lot of that is because the Left has backed us into a corner. 

[TomSea]

Barcelona Catalonia, voted to leave Spain, not a binding vote, but they are proud of their own nation, heritage and believe they are entitled to their own country.

But, no, anti-diversity is something that makes one like a fascist, unbelievable. The hate really is from the other side.



These very bad people.  Where are their white hoods?