Right Wing Rockers: How Punk Culture and White Supremacy Combine

• In Event: 4322 - Section on Political Sociology Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 09. Conservatives and Right-Wing Politics

Abstract

White Supremacist music cultures have been an ongoing interest in sociology. One unique strain within these cultures is that of punk music, often known as Rock Against Communism (RAC). However, the majority of research tends to focus on these groups as part of social movements or as a method of recruitment. What is often overlooked is that these groups also engage in behavior associated with rock music scenes. By analyzing fan interviews with RAC band members, look at how band members can develop and maintain a music scene by combining white nationalist and punk ideologies. The findings suggest that when looking at the RAC community and the production of music, a punk ethos is prioritized over white supremacy. However, when looking at the message of the music and interactions with the outside world, the main focus is first through a white supremacist lens.

Author

• Nathan Katz, University of Missouri-Columbia