How the BNP stokes fear and hatred

Last updated on: November 13, 2014 at 7:25 pm by Epiphenom

How the BNP stokes fear and hatred 2014-11-13T19:25:37+01:00 Epiphenom

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The July 2005 terrorist bombings in London handed the BNP a propaganda coup, which they exploited to maximum effect. In the 2006 election, the BNP polled over 238,000 votes, compared with just 3000 votes in 2000. The BNP is now the most successful fascist party in British history.

So a new analysis of the BNP’s portrayal of Muslims in the aftermath of the bombing is acutely relevant. Two psychologists from Surrey University have analysed articles written by prominent members of the BNP in the aftermath of the attacks, and pulled out the common themes. BPS Research Digest reports:

Quoting extracts from the BNP articles, Finlay and Wood say the arguments resemble a conspiracy theory and they identify the use of two tools of persuasion in relation to Muslims in Britain: the “accentuation effect”, which is the attempt to portray outgroups as homogeneous and distinct from ingroups; and “essentialism”, which is the idea that members of a given group all share important, essential qualities.

In other words, muslims are all the same, and they are different from us. It’s classic out-group posturing, appealing to deep-rooted instincts from our tribal past.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 8, 2008

God-damned nanotechnology

Next Post

December 12, 2008 Give us our midwinter festival back!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Causes of religion - evolution Causes of religion - psychological Causes of religion - social Demographics Digest Effects of religion - health Effects of religion - psychological Effects of religion - social Notifications Politics Uncategorized

Select a Month March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, 'For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life'?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Paul James John Peter