The role of nationalism in the appeal of the far right

We use a psychosocial approach to explore the important role nationalism plays in underpinning the resurgence of far-Right populist parties. We first define nationalism as an everyday phenomenon, with a banal form that structures our lives, that makes the hot form possible (Billig, 1995). We then look at social and psychological reasons why people would be drawn to the far-Right. Socially, the far-Right take advantage of people’s alienation and the deteriorating economic circumstances, to argue that others are responsible for undermining the national spirit, sending the nation into decline. Psychologically, authoritarian leaders provide an opportunity for people to resolve their frustrations at their status: they see themselves reflected in the leader’s glory, by subsuming themselves to the nation. National identity, combined with these forces, thus explains the attraction of the far-Right as providing a seeming resolution to their social and psychological struggles, through the immortality of the nation.