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The biggest weakness of this study and anything that I've seen discussing the "alt-right" is their arbitrary and capricious use of the term. Alt-right is a ver

The biggest weakness of this study and anything that I've seen discussing the "alt-right" is their arbitrary and capricious use of the term. Alt-right is a very simple term to understand: it simply means people on the right of the political spectrum who reject the establishment. This includes: libertarians, monarchy restorationists, neo nazis and other groups. The two tests for alt-right membership that were done were 1. Opposition to progressivism (PCA/PCL) 2. White Identitarianism Assuming that this paper is actually measuring something (which is a big assumption for social science "research"), it certainly doesn't measure what it purports to measure. At best it measures the attitudes of people best described as "race realists" (their name, not mine) who also self-identify as White.

runjake 6y ago
The term alt-right was coined by Richard Spencer, a white nationalist, to describe his ideology which includes white nationalism and opposition to Progressivism [1]. Other, non-white nationalists may describe themselves as "alt-right", but they are effectively co-opting Spencer's ideology. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt-right https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt-right Disclaimer: I cite Wikipedia, but I also follow white nationalist movements closely and so I have my own level of expertise and awareness.
TheOtherHobbes 6y ago
The paper also mentions that the research applies to new-left "liberal extremists" - not just extremists on the right. But the hypothesis isn't really about that. It's about the relationship style of authoritarians - not their specific political tribe. The defining features of authoritarianism are extreme in-group valorisation, extreme out-group hostility, and demands for compliance to tribal authority from everyone - even when that compliance is irrational (at best) or strategically self-harming (at worst). This is exactly what you'd expect from collective instead of individual narcissism. There's no room for dissent, nuance, or open-minded inquiry, all of which are seen as ego weakness, and must be hidden or punished. The in-group has to reinforce its own fragile image of superiority at all costs. Usually that means projecting all psychological and emotional weaknesses onto the out-group, where they can be disowned and attacked, sometimes with literal violence, or with verbal and intellectual violence - like brigading, or online trolling. The tell isn't the tribal belief system, it's the extremism, aggressive token point scoring, and absolute lack of nuance and strategic awareness with which it's pursued and promoted.
pwinnski 6y ago
"it simply means people on the right of the political spectrum who reject the establishment" This is not correct. The term refers to the traits described in the paper: White Identarianism and anti-progressivism.

runjake 6y ago

The term alt-right was coined by Richard Spencer, a white nationalist, to describe his ideology which includes white nationalism and opposition to Progressivism [1]. Other, non-white nationalists may describe themselves as "alt-right", but they are effectively co-opting Spencer's ideology. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt-right https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt-right Disclaimer: I cite Wikipedia, but I also follow white nationalist movements closely and so I have my own level of expertise and awareness.

TheOtherHobbes 6y ago

The paper also mentions that the research applies to new-left "liberal extremists" - not just extremists on the right. But the hypothesis isn't really about that. It's about the relationship style of authoritarians - not their specific political tribe. The defining features of authoritarianism are extreme in-group valorisation, extreme out-group hostility, and demands for compliance to tribal authority from everyone - even when that compliance is irrational (at best) or strategically self-harming (at worst). This is exactly what you'd expect from collective instead of individual narcissism. There's no room for dissent, nuance, or open-minded inquiry, all of which are seen as ego weakness, and must be hidden or punished. The in-group has to reinforce its own fragile image of superiority at all costs. Usually that means projecting all psychological and emotional weaknesses onto the out-group, where they can be disowned and attacked, sometimes with literal violence, or with verbal and intellectual violence - like brigading, or online trolling. The tell isn't the tribal belief system, it's the extremism, aggressive token point scoring, and absolute lack of nuance and strategic awareness with which it's pursued and promoted.

pwinnski 6y ago

"it simply means people on the right of the political spectrum who reject the establishment" This is not correct. The term refers to the traits described in the paper: White Identarianism and anti-progressivism.