ALT-RIGHT

What Does Alt-Right Mean?

The Quick Answer

Alt-Right means "Alternative Right."

More Detail...

It is a shortened form of "alternative right" and refers to a far-right political ideology or movement. It emerged in the United States during the 2010s and gained attention during the 2016 presidential election. The alt-right is characterized by a range of beliefs and ideas, but it is often associated with white nationalism, ethno-nationalism, and white supremacism. The alt-right movement primarily gained traction online, using platforms such as social media and internet forums to spread its ideas. It attracted a diverse range of individuals, including white nationalists, anti-Semites, anti-feminists, and anti-immigration activists. The movement rejected mainstream conservatism and sought to challenge and subvert traditional political norms. Some key beliefs associated with the alt-right include:

White identity and preservation: Alt-right proponents emphasize the preservation of white European culture, heritage, and identity. They often argue for the importance of maintaining a majority white population and oppose multiculturalism.
Ethno-nationalism: The alt-right advocates for the establishment of ethno-states, where people of a specific ethnicity or race would live separately from others.
Anti-globalism: Many alt-right followers reject globalization, seeing it as a threat to national identity and sovereignty. They often oppose free trade agreements, international organizations, and immigration.
Anti-feminism: The movement is critical of feminism and often promotes traditional gender roles. Some alt-right members argue that feminism has harmed Western societies and weakened traditional family structures.
Anti-Semitism: A significant faction of the alt-right holds anti-Semitic views, believing in Jewish control or influence over various societal institutions, such as media, finance, and politics.
Internet culture and memes: The alt-right has embraced internet culture and frequently employs memes and online trolling to spread its messages and provoke reactions.

The alt-right has faced widespread condemnation for its extremist and hateful views. Critics argue that the movement promotes racism, bigotry, and discrimination. It has been associated with incidents of violence, including the deadly "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, and the attack on the US Capitol building on January 6 2021.

Image for ALT-RIGHT

When I write ALT-RIGHT, I mean this:

Supporters of former President Trump inside the Capitol building.

Summary of Key Points

We have summarized the key points in the table below:

Alt-Right
Definition:	Alternative Right
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	1: Easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at Alt-Right

The term alt-right can be considered a neologism. A neologism is a newly coined word or phrase that has recently come into use or has been created to describe a new concept, idea, or phenomenon. Neologisms can be created in any language and can take different forms, such as:

A new meaning for an existing word (e.g., cloud, mood, sick, tweet, viral).
A completely new word (e.g., fomo, selfie, emoji).
A new combination of existing words, or words with prefixes or suffixes (e.g., cloutrage, digital detox, situationship, oversharing, antifragile).

Neologisms are often the result of changes in technology, culture, or social norms, and they can be found in fields such as science, technology, politics, and popular culture. Some neologisms become widely used and enter mainstream vocabulary, while others remain obscure or limited to specific communities or contexts.