Racism changes over time it adapts to the current circumstance therefore, it is not a new form racism. At the moment Europe is in the geographical and in the political sense unfinished and unsure about its future. People living in this circumstance reflect that insecurity and have the need for justifications. Right-wing politicians blame foreigners and on that basis find easy solutions to complex problems. Racism is not a mysterious phenomenon, but the question remains when, why and by what actors it is used as a strategy of domination, and what kind of conditions can stimulate this use. Therefore, this essay will outline old racism and illustrate its occurrence with examples of Nazi-Germany. Secondly, new forms of racism will be explained. The new right attracts both working class and middle class voters. This essay will argue that unemployment, violence and crime, and the abuse of the social welfare state are issues problematised by the new right to gain votes. And finally, it will demonstrate that the European Union stimulates racism in a direct and indirect way.
The concept of old racism was based on biological discrimination. The example of Nazi- Germany will be used as it had enormous consequences for the country and the world. The Aryan race was defined as superior to all others. The Nazis needed to blame someone for the economic and social misery of the 1920s, and the failure of the Weimar Republic. People where insecure about the future and unsatisfied about the present partly because of high unemployment and devaluation of money. As a result the UNESCO proved racism on biological grounds is a falsification of the scientific basis (Miles and Brown 2003 p. 59). Until the 1980s Germany became very cautious in using the word racism in the context of migrant workers as it was argued to be an offence against the Jews and Gypsies. Cox actually defined old racism as a “rationalisation of exploitation in the colonial time, where white people used it as a justification to suppress black people” (in Räthzel 2002 p. 4). Banton argues that the concept of the ideology originally referred to is dead. The analytical reason for Banton’s argument is that when black people joined capitalistic societies they still joined them on the bottom of society. This points to the fact that it is a “structural subordination rather than an ideological transformation” and not a racist.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Old racism
3. New racism
4. How the new right uses racism
5. How the European Union stimulates racism
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this essay is to examine the emergence of new forms of racism within Europe, investigating how societal insecurity and political strategies utilize racism to justify complex socio-economic problems. It explores the transition from biological to cultural justifications of racism and analyzes the role of the European Union and right-wing political discourse in perpetuating these issues.
- The evolution of racism from biological to cultural paradigms.
- The instrumentalization of racism by right-wing political movements to gain voter support.
- The link between socio-economic insecurity, such as unemployment and crime, and the externalization of these problems onto outsiders.
- The role of European integration and citizenship policies in creating exclusionary categories for "third-country residents."
Excerpt from the Book
The concept of old racism was based on biological discrimination.
The example of Nazi-Germany will be used as it had enormous consequences for the country and the world. The Aryan race was defined as superior to all others. The Nazis needed to blame someone for the economic and social misery of the 1920s, and the failure of the Weimar Republic. People where insecure about the future and unsatisfied about the present partly because of high unemployment and devaluation of money. As a result the UNESCO proved racism on biological grounds is a falsification of the scientific basis (Miles and Brown 2003 p. 59). Until the 1980s Germany became very cautious in using the word racism in the context of migrant workers as it was argued to be an offence against the Jews and Gypsies. Cox actually defined old racism as a “rationalisation of exploitation in the colonial time, where white people used it as a justification to suppress black people” (in Räthzel 2002 p. 4). Banton argues that the concept of the ideology originally referred to is dead. The analytical reason for Banton’s argument is that when black people joined capitalistic societies they still joined them on the bottom of society. This points to the fact that it is a “structural subordination rather than an ideological transformation” and not a racist (in Miles 1989 p.67).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the persistence of racism as an adaptive phenomenon and presents the thesis that economic insecurity and political actors drive modern racism.
2. Old racism: Analyzes the biological foundations of historical racism using the example of Nazi Germany and colonial exploitation.
3. New racism: Explores the shift toward cultural and identity-based discourse that asserts the necessity of preserving "natural" boundaries between different groups.
4. How the new right uses racism: Examines how right-wing parties mobilize voters by problematizing issues like unemployment, crime, and social welfare.
5. How the European Union stimulates racism: Investigates how the creation of a common European identity and the status of "third-country residents" can exacerbate exclusionary practices.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes how both old and new forms of racism function as strategies to externalize internal societal problems and maintain control.
Keywords
Racism, New Racism, Old Racism, Europe, European Union, Right-wing Populism, Xenophobia, Culturalization, Biological Discrimination, Migration, Social Welfare, Unemployment, Ideology, Identity, Exclusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper examines the persistence and evolution of racism within contemporary Europe, arguing that it is not a fading relic but a dynamic phenomenon that adapts to modern political and social insecurities.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the transition from biological to cultural definitions of racism, the political use of fear by the New Right, and the impact of European integration on the categorization of foreigners.
What is the primary research question?
The primary question asks what evidence exists for the emergence of new forms of racism in Europe and what conditions or actors stimulate these exclusionary strategies.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The study utilizes a qualitative literature analysis, synthesizing theories from authors such as Miles, Banton, and Räthzel to interpret historical examples and current political discourse.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body contrasts "old" biological racism with "new" cultural racism, analyzes the platforms of right-wing parties regarding immigrants, and critiques how European Union policies create hierarchies of citizenship.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include New Racism, European Identity, Right-wing Populism, Xenophobia, Structural Subordination, and Socio-economic Insecurity.
How does the author define the difference between "old" and "new" racism?
Old racism is defined by biological notions of superiority, while new racism focuses on cultural differences and the perceived necessity of maintaining homogeneous national or cultural boundaries.
In what way does the European Union play a role in this analysis?
The author argues that while intended to foster unity, the EU's development of specific citizenship categories and the externalization of internal problems onto "third-country residents" can indirectly stimulate racist sentiments.
- Quote paper
- Caroline Wirth (Author), 2004, What evidence is there of the emergence of new forms of racism within Europe?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/32112
