Issues

The Pornography of Fools: Tracing the History of Sexual Antisemitism
In his newly published article, Aidan J. Beatty (History, Carnegie Mellon University) examines sexualized antisemitism. He explores how it portrays Jewish men as predatory and Jewish women as dangerous, blending fear with voyeuristic appeal. From medieval Europe to Nazi Germany, propaganda used these narratives to stoke hatred and link Jewish peoples to societal decay. Today, far-right ideologies like the so-called Great Replacement theory recycle these themes, amplified by online platforms. According to Beatty, sexualized antisemitism intersects with other bigotries, such as Islamophobia and anti-Black racism, revealing shared fears of sexual and racial transgression. It remains a powerful tool for spreading hatred, making it essential to understand and confront its ongoing influence. Read the full article here. 

Similarity Heuristics in the Indian Far Right: How the RSS Obscures Its Operational Scale

 We are excited to announce the latest publication in the Journal of Right-Wing Studies titled Similarity Heuristics in the Indian Far Right: How the RSS Obscures Its Operational Scale by University of Western Australia political scientist Felix Pal. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is one of the world's largest far-right organizations, known for its disciplined public image and Hindu nationalist agenda. This article investigates how the RSS masks its extensive operations through a crafted public image of unity and discipline. Pal reveals the dual structure of the RSS, with the visible cadre RSS and the managerial RSS, which coordinates a vast network of affiliates. This approach allows the RSS to maintain a façade of unity while managing diverse operations. Read the full article here.

The Menace of Globalism: Merwin K. Hart and Nationalist Conservatism, 1930–1960

This newly published article examines the role of Merwin K. Hart in shaping American conservatism in the mid-20th century. Through meticulous research, the article reveals how Hart, an operative and propagandist, significantly influenced the postwar conservative movement with his blend of nativism, antisemitism, anti-interventionism, and economic libertarianism. King's College (Cambridge) PhD candidate Alex McPhee-Browne critically analyzes Hart's organization, the New York State Economic Council, later the National Economic Council, illuminating its essential role in disseminating conservative ideologies during an era of liberal dominance.

McPhee-Browne explains Hart’s impact, challenging the prevailing view of early opponents of the New Deal as principled libertarians untainted by bigotry. Instead, it presents a complex picture of nationalist conservatives as instrumental in crafting the ideology that would later define postwar conservatism. McPhee-Browne's work is a significant contribution to our understanding of the historical underpinnings of contemporary political discourse—essential context for comprehending the ideological evolutions within American conservatism.