European New Right
The European New Right is a term that has been applied to individuals, organizations, and movements originating from or otherwise influenced by the French organization GRECE. The term has been seen as problematic, but has become widely used.
The term "New Right"
The term "New Right" is problematic for various reasons, including its great ambiguity, with there being numerous organizations and movements, in various countries, at various times, that are or have been referred to as "New Right", by themselves or by others. Also, many of those so labeled would likely object to their ideologies as being "New", often seeing them as continuation of old ideologies and traditions. Some may possibly object to the term "Right", possibly seeing themselves as outside the left–right political spectrum or possibly seeing themselves as primarily cultural and not political, with the term viewed as giving the impression of a political party.
The term Nouvelle Droite (French for "New Right") was applied to GRECE and its ideology by outside media, possibly in part inspired by the term "New Left". Alain de Benoist instead used terms such as New School or New Culture.
Regardless, the term Nouvelle Droite, and its extension the European New Right, have become commonly used. The usage in this article does not mean that the organizations so labeled themselves use the term "New Right", that they have no other influences than GRECE, or that they do not have views that may differ from those of GRECE.
While the term Nouvelle Droite in French is rather closely associated with GRECE, similar terms in other languages, such as Neue Rechte in German or Nueva Derecha in Spanish, are more ambiguous, sometimes referring to organizations influenced by GRECE, sometimes not.
The problems with term is likely one reason for many of those so labeled instead using the related term Identitarianism.
Views
Associated views and characteristics, not necessarily shared by all:
- GRECE was officially founded in 1969, in reaction to the 1960s counterculture, the New Left and Cultural Marxism. It is based on the conclusion that the leftist movement had been successful in large part by changing the culture, and therefore also aimed at influencing culture. See Metapolitics.
- Rejection of supremacism. See Ethnopluralism.
- Opposition to mass immigration.
- Support for a society with extensive local autonomy within a federation/confederacy, possibly on a pan-European scale.
- Criticisms of Communism and Cultural Marxism.
- Criticisms of postmodernism, although some aspects have been seen as valuable, such as argued support for local differences and cultures.
- Criticisms of globalization.
- Criticisms of American (cultural) influence, especially the aspects seen as eliminating local differences and cultures.
- Criticisms of Christianity, especially the aspects seen as eliminating local differences and cultures.
- Influences from paganism.
- Influences from the Traditionalist School and Julius Evola in particular.
- Influences from the Conservative Revolutionary movement.
- Influences from other anti-liberal philosophers.
- Influences from European history, such as regarding how European culture and identity have been influenced by the Indo-Europeans, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and the Middle Ages. See also Archeofuturism.
- Influences from new research in areas such as biology, ethology, genetics, and sociobiology, especially undermining politically correct views.
There are various differences between individuals and organizations associated with the movement. One example being that various individuals have left and criticized GRECE, notably Guillaume Faye, arguing that GRECE had become too conformist and avoided problematic ethnic issues.