Abstract
This chapter compares contemporary far-right movements in Australia with far-right movements from the 1930s. By examining the provenance and manifestations of the far right in these periods, the chapter notes the importance of Australia’s early history, especially with regard to the “White Australia Policy” that contributed to a rejection of Australia’s Indigenous population as well as non-white immigration. Movements from both eras, apart from their resurgence during times of apparent or feared economic decline, are shown to exhibit similar characteristics in adherence to a nativist populism, hybrid racism, ambivalence to democracy, and congruence with transnational far-right movements. The chapter concludes that as late as 2019 the ruling coalition government in Australia gained from a politically expedient electoral relationship with a xenophobic far right with roots in earlier far-right movements.
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Notes
- 1.
Pauline Hanson has been associated with several political parties including those registered as “One Nation” and “Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.”
- 2.
A report in November 1933 from the Melbourne Age newspaper reported that several members refused to provide the “Fascist salute” favored by their leader Eric Campbell noting their objection to it as a “Fascist stunt.”
- 3.
“Aussie Battler” is a colloquialism referring to the idea of the hardworking Australian (usually taken as “white”) and their travails in securing a good life against the tide of alleged government indifference, corporate greed, and similar tropes of hardship.
- 4.
A theory held by the FR that the “white race” is being replaced by colored races, including admixtures of other conspiracy theories, eugenics, and claims of entitlement.
- 5.
“Aussies” is a contraction of “Australians” and a colloquial expression for the putative everyday Australian that Australian FR parties claim they speak for.
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Briskey, M. (2020). From the Old Guard to the Lads Movement: Hybrid Racism and White Supremacism in Australia. In: Rayner, J., Falls, S., Souvlis, G., Nelms, T.C. (eds) Back to the ‘30s? . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41586-0_18
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