Work

White Americans who perceive themselves to be “last place” in the racial status hierarchy are most drawn to alt-right extremism

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Economic inequality and alt-right extremism have reached historic highs in the U.S. We propose that high economic inequality may uphold stereotypes that white people are wealthy which may lead some white Americans to feel in the precarious position of falling behind their racial group’s high status. For white Americans who also feel that they are being passed in status by People of Color, such perceptions may make ideologies that aim to benefit white people particularly appealing. Across two studies (Pilot: N = 465; Study 1: N = 1,449), using representative quota sampling of non-Hispanic, white Americans, we combine a measure of subjective status with latent profile analysis to identify white Americans who feel they are in “Last Place” (i.e., falling behind most white, Black, Asian, and Latinx Americans). Controlling for objective status, white Americans in this “Last Place” profile were most likely to support alt-right ideology, politicians, and events. White Americans who feel they are in “last place” – falling behind the perceived status of most white, Black, Asian, and Latinx Americans – express the most support for alt-right ideology and politics.

Source: Communications Psychology

DOI: 10.1038/s44271-024-00154-w

Authors: Erin Cooley, Jazmin L. Brown-Iannuzzi, Nava Caluori, Nicholas Elacqua, William Cipolli

Institutions: Colgate University, University of Virginia, University of Illinois Chicago

Language: English

Topic: Populism, Right-Wing Movements

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,090