Identity, Inequity, and Ideology: Exploring the Influence of Multiple Nationalist Identities on Right-Wing Extremist Attitudes

• In Event: Poster Session 1

Abstract

Identity-based populism justifies the devaluation of minorities by arguing that these groups are prioritized over the 'actual' population. This leads to a growing sense of injustice and marginalization among the majority population in many European countries. Such perceptions, based on group memberships, can be seen as threats to ingroup status according to Social Identity Theory. Threats trigger coping mechanisms that may aim to protect ingroup status by identifying scapegoats. These manifestations include xenophobia and the rejection of elements of the democratic system – both key dimensions of right-wing extremism.
Nationalism is rooted in ethnicity and culture, yet previous research underscores the interconnectedness of identities, additionally including region of living, language, and skin color. The present study includes all five dimensions in a cluster analysis approach. The aim is to examine the role of social identities and identity threats in fostering right-wing extremist attitudes. Analyses are based on data from a 2022 representative German population survey (N = 4,319). The findings show that complex identity configurations are stronger predictors of relevant attitudes, indicating that identities amplify each other in specific constellations which leads to stronger attitudes than single identities. The critical, multifaceted role of social identities in shaping political attitudes will be discussed.

Author

• Rebecca Endtricht, University of Hamburg