Understanding the Alt-Right's Attitude Towards White Muslims

The Alt-Right has emerged as a significant movement in the United States and Europe, marked by its racist ideologies and nationalist rhetoric. One aspect often highlighted in discussions about the Alt-Right is their approach to Muslims, frequently perceiving them as a symbol of opposition to white identity and culture. However, a question arises when it comes to white Muslims, specifically groups like Albanians and Bosniaks. How do the Alt-Right perceive these communities?

Assumptions and Misconceptions

For the Alt-Right, Muslims do not merely represent a religious group. Instead, they frequently serve as a code-word that encompasses a range of racial and cultural identities, often associated with polygyny, higher birth rates, and perceived otherness. This perception is rooted in a broader white ethnocentrism where any ethnicity that is seen as non-white is often vilified.

Ignoring White Muslims

One of the most striking aspects of the Alt-Right's rhetoric is their tendency to avoid discussing white Muslims altogether. This is due, in part, to the belief that raising awareness of their existence might garnered sympathy or challenge their biases. By minimizing or ignoring the existence of white Muslims, they can maintain a discourse centered solely around the racial and cultural differences they perceive as a threat to white identity.

Interpreting Their Opinion

When the Alt-Right does discuss white Muslims, it is often to criticize their perceived cultural or racial traits. The race or perceived race of white Muslims is almost always the focus of their criticism. For instance, terms like white brown or white Arabs are sometimes used to emphasize the perceived conflict between their religiosity and whiteness. This is an attempt to present a dichotomy where whiteness and Islam cannot coexist, reinforcing the idea that white Muslims are fundamentally untrustworthy.

Sociopolitical Context

The rise of the Alt-Right and other far-right movements in recent years is rooted in a complex mix of neo-nationalism, economic insecurity, and cultural anxieties. The perception of white Muslims as a threat is often driven by a desire to preserve a racially homogeneous and culturally dominant group. This perception is not limited to the Alt-Right; it is a broader discourse that affects various right-wing groups and individuals.

Examining Specific Groups: Albanians and Bosniaks

Albanians and Bosniaks, both predominantly Muslim communities, are often lumped into this discourse. However, it is important to note that these communities, though sharing a religion, also hold significant cultural differences and have diverse histories.

Albanians, for example, come from an Eastern European background and are a distinct cultural and linguistic group. Despite being Muslim, Albanians often face prejudice and stereotypes that reinforce their otherness within the wider white ethnocentric discourse. The Alt-Right may use similar rhetoric to delegitimize their cultural identity, emphasizing their supposed foreignness despite their proximity to Europe.

Bosniaks, on the other hand, hold a complex history tied to the former Yugoslavia region, and have a rich cultural history that is often downplayed or overlooked in the discourse. The perceived religious label of Muslim is frequently used to align them with global anti-Western movements, despite their history of secularism and diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Conclusion

The Alt-Right's attitude towards white Muslims, including communities like Albanians and Bosniaks, is a stark reminder of the broader racial and cultural anxieties that underpin their ideology. By framing Muslims and particularly white Muslims through the lens of their race and religion, the Alt-Right can maintain their narrative of a homogeneous and threatened white identity. This discourse is not only used to justify their xenophobic and racist views but also to fuel a sense of crisis and urgency in the defense of white identity.

Keywords