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ABSTRACT
Employing an interpretive content analysis of online forums, the author examines use of environmental themes by the United States white separatist movement in its efforts to seek legitimacy and garner a broad base of support. The contemporary white separatist movement draws upon latent National Socialist environmental discursive frames linked to history, spirituality, and stewardship. The lack of a specific position on the environment in the movement permits the manipulation of environmental themes to appeal to a wide range of audiences. Appeals to right wing environmental, population, and anti-environmental audiences include a discourse of environmental skepticism, concerns about immigration and overpopulation and discussion of rights to nature and land. Appeals to left wing and mainstream audiences involve expressions of environmental concern, preservation, stewardship, and rights of nature. A narrative of networking using environmentalism's broad appeal, perceived concerns regarding immigration and population growth, and similarities in racial characteristics was also evident.
KEYWORDS
environmentalism, discursive frames, right wing movements, social movement claims, white separatism
Environmental concern and protection have emerged as topics of interest to a wide range of constituents. Receiving broad acceptance by the public in the United States (Kalof et al. 2002; Mertig and Dunlap 2001; Xiao and Dunlap 2007), some researchers suggest that concern for the environment has become a social norm (Takas-Santa 2007). Scholars note that organizing on environmental themes appeals to individuals on a broad political spectrum and discourse on the environment exists in both right and left wing movements (Bhatia 2004; Markham 2007; Olsen 1999).
Fringe movements often move to legitimize claims by using mainstream issues loosely related to central movement goals. Considered extremist in their ideologies and actions, white separatist groups operate along the fringes of society (Barkun 1998). These groups maintain primary movement principles linked to racial identity, separation, and supremacy, making connections to Hitler's National Socialism to support central movement claims. In addition, white separatist organizations in the United States take positions on immigration and population that align with the newly emerging right wing environmental movement. White separatist activists have worked to "portray their perspective as legitimate and as belonging to the mainstream" (Berbrier 1998: 432), shaping movement discourse to appeal to a wider audience and using themes related to primary movement philosophies.
One mainstream theme used...