Jérôme Jamin

Cultural Marxism and the Radical Right

This essay examines the conspiratorial dynamics of the term Cultural Marxism, which has been deployed by a number of extreme right activists. Jamin parses this discourse from its origins in the Free Congress Foundation, to its uptake by the high-profile American politician Pat Buchanan, to its eventual employment by Anders Breivik. As well as in Anglophone settings such as Breivik’s manifesto, analysis also highlights that the concept has found a relevance within the British extreme right. Figures including Nick Griffin have drawn on this terminology, a discourse offering a useful crutch to support various political arguments. Jamin’s conclusions highlight the nebulous nature of this discourse, allowing a variety of protagonists to use it to mobilize a range of passions.