Is the Alt-Right Useful to Conservative Causes?

Since Donald Trump’s popularity has soared, a new faction of right wing politics has become apparent, rising out of the deepest, darkest, and most obscure corners of the internet. This is the Alt-Right. In its infancy, the Alt-Right has its source in white nationalism and neo-Nazi ideologies. This has meant that during much of the existence of the Alt-Right, it has belonged to fringe political movements. It has been kept very much out of the mainstream. Therefore, it would seem that the Alt-Right has very little to do with conservatism, along with its relating ideologies and causes. Yet, since it has broken into the mainstream via Donald Trump’s anti-establishment rhetoric, it may prove to have a role to play.

Before the current essence of the Alt-Right is examined, its initial source must be looked at in order for its existence to be understood. The Alt-Right was originally first and fore mostly a white nationalist ideology. With ideas taken from white supremacist veterans such as David Duke, the website ‘Alternative Right’ was founded by Richard B. Spencer in 2010. Spencer is noted for his involvement with the National Policy Institute, a nationalist think tank, of which he is the president. Further still, the Alt Right’s tactics of internet trolling and usage of internet memes originate from the Daily Stormer which was created by Andrew Anglin in 2013. Again, this comes from a fringe movement on the far right, with its foundations in neo-Nazism. Note the uncanny resemblance in name to the notorious Der Stürmer newspaper from the Third Reich. Needless to say, at least in it’s origins; the Alt Right’s ideology was undeniably based upon the politics of the far-right. Thus in this case one can comfortably say that the Alt Right’s origins are able to discredit any potential usefulness to the conservative causes.

Despite the Alt-Right’s apparent surge in support, it is almost impossible to define its current political ideology. While it does have its origins in white nationalism, many of its followers do not support such a radical view, which is a view that does not belong in mainstream politics. By looking at Donald Trump’s support base, and the Alt-Right’s followers who are now very vocal across the internet, a variety of ideologies are illustrated. Firstly, the Alt-Right does believe, at least partially, in populism. The Alt-Right do believe in ‘making America great again.’ They are anti-immigration, and they are sceptical of Islam. However, it is the extent of this that varies. While many Alt-Right sympathisers are libertarians and more right-leaning conservatives, the movement does still have notable traces of nationalism. While this is certainly true, due to the undeniable elements of populism that the Alt-Right believes in, conservatives and libertarians do have something to gain from their increasing publicity. The Alt-Right will allow for certain issues, such as immigration and Islamification, to be raised on a variety of platforms. Albeit, the association with white nationalism and neo-Nazism does handicap the credibility of the Alt-Right movement, some of its current main ideas do now have a place in mainstream politics. It may perhaps prove to be of use in terms of publicising issues that conservatives have long been fighting for.

The way in which the Alt Right spreads its ideas and gains publicity is also a bizarre modern political phenomena. The use of memes and internet trolling has previously been used by the more puerile users of the internet – typically misanthropes and sexually frustrated teenagers. However, since the rise of the Alt Right, trolling and meme usage has since broken into the mainstream political scene, and which credible success. What this has done is utilise a massively underrated force in politics – younger members of society. Via the use of memes and social media, a new demographic of people have been able to access political issues in a very digestible manner. Despite the childish and absurd appearance of ‘Pepe the Frog’ memes and so on, they have proven to be immensely popular and have gone viral. Even Donald Trump himself has tweeted an image of ‘Trump Pepe.’ This new method has turned out to be witty, comical, and most surprisingly very insightful. The use of memes in politics has truly shown how important a force populism in politics is. For true populism, all demographics of people need to be reached and spoken to. And in this case, memes and humour-based political discussion have proven to be crucial in gaining publicity for conservative movements and ideas.

Donald Trump has often been the topic of 'Pepe the Frog' memes. 

Regardless of one’s political standpoint, the Alt Right has proven to be a formidable force on the numerous political and social platforms across the internet. Whether done through structured political debate, the comical yet profound use of memes or even through the persistent nature of internet trolling. These have allowed for the Alt Right to leave its old place in the obscurity of the political wilderness, and to venture right into the volatile centre of our current political climate. Yet, the question still stands – whether or not the Alt Right can be of true usefulness to conservative causes. This still remains to be a dubious question to address. The Alt Right will always have its origins, and continuous support, from those belonging to the far-right ideologies of white nationalism and neo-Nazism. This seriously handicaps the movement, as it will allow the Left to continue to use the ‘racist card’ along with the usual lousy comparisons to Hitler and the Third Reich. It could therefore potentially be damaging to conservative causes for conservatives to associate themselves with the Alt Right. While this is an undeniable fact, the Left’s continued attacks against Trump and conservatism across the West in general have proven to be quite futile. The arguments of ‘he is literally Hitler’ and ‘that idea is fascist’ have become so threadbare that they lack any real credibility. Further still, the Alt Right has given conservatives an unlikely platform to promote patriotism, anti-immigration stances and freedom of speech. The Alt Right has in this sense proven to be quite the credible political ally.

What is most crucial of all however is the way in which the Alt Right has been able to mobilise such a widespread community. It has opened up the minds and ideas of a new generation of conservatives, libertarians and patriots via its youthful tactics in order to gain publicity. This will undoubtedly allow for conservatism to spread into the next generation. This is therefore a very promising prospect. As long as conservatives do not adopt the ideological origins of the Alt Right movement, the Alt Right will continue to be a pivotal force in politics that will be of the utmost use to conservatives of all demographics.