The Axis of Hate: Identitarianism, Afroxenophobia and Vigilantism



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Submitted Oct 31, 2022
Published Nov 30, 2022
10.24018/ejdevelop.2022.2.5.168

Abstract viewed = 567 times

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This is an investigation into the similarities and shared values between Identitarianism, xenophobia and vigilantism, by analyzing recent xenophobic and vigilante attacks of foreigners and migrants in Europe and Africa.  Identitarianism or the European brand of the Far-Right political dogma is built on adherence to the concept of homogeneity of race or ethnicity, culture, religion, language, and the general aspiration of a body politic. This is the same as basic foundations of Pan-Africanism design. Identity Politics is typified by the systematic exclusion of people with dissimilar ethnicity, racial characteristics and disparate socio-political belief-systems. The three axis of hate, namely Identitarianism, Xenophobia and Vigilantism were conceptually analyzed using refereed papers that were freely available on the Internet to shed light on their relationships and similarities. The aim was to show how these concepts are being deployed by certain socio-political elements in Europe against Africans and other migrants or even legal immigrants. It also shows broadly, how Africans in some African nations deploy the same tools of hate and exclusion on other Africans of different nationalities by way of physical attacks, and economic sabotage and invasion of businesses owned by foreigners. Such experiences have in the past, occurred in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Gabon, Angola, Kenya and others. Key finding is that the European brand of Identitarianism and Xenophobia; in all of its hostilities are not intrinsically different from Afro-Xenophobic foundations of Pan-Africanism and African societies even today. What is different is that Identity Politics is actively practiced within the culturally relative African democracies, where the Party in power doles out appointments and contracts to both deserving and undeserving Political Party operators, related persons and entities.

Keywords: Africa, Identitarianism, Pan-Africanism, Vigilantism, Xenophobia.

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