Civic v racist nationalism

Over the years the world has changed, political parties have changed, my opinions have changed.  Not surprising therefore that I have changed my political allegiance over the years.  What worries me is the phenomenon of  'party right or wrong' loyalists, or bigots for want of another word.  Churchill phrased it more elegantly: Some men change their party for the sake of their principles. Others change their principles for the sake of their party.

Come with me into the world of civic and racist nationalism.

Civic nationalism takes different forms. It includes the repatriation of powers from the European Union to the United Kingdom, the preservation of the United Kingdom as a constitutional entity, the creation of independent states for the four countries of the United Kingdom and the creation of a federal UK with symetric devolution. 

These various forms have one thing in common: the definition of nationalism is based on the constitutional arrangements for defined geographical areas and all the people living in those areas.

There is a far more insidious form of nationalism, often referred to as cultural or ethic nationalism, which putting it bluntly is racist nationalism. One of the leading purveyors of racist nationalism is the BNP.  The BNP is debt-laden, on the verge of bankruptcy and consumed by factions.  The party has lost many members: some are looking for new political homes.

Some ex-BNP members have lighted on the English Democrats as their political abode.  This involves them recanting two previously held positions namely: British and racist nationalism and in their stead embracing English and civic nationalism.  A number of English Democrats have viewed  the Damascean conversions with grave suspicion, indeed disbelief, their worries being compounded by the willingness of the ED to welcome these converts.

There have been resignations from the English Democrats, some have joined UKIP which is currently considering a policy change which will commit it to the creation of an English parliament within a federal UK structure, others may join minor English civic nationalist parties.

The next few months will be critical for UKIP and the ED.  Should UKIP confirm its new policy stance then it might expect an influx of English civic nationalists.  For the ED the stakes are much higher.  A loss of civic nationalists and a gain of ex-BNP members could lead to a shift in emphasis within the party towards a racist nationalist stance, no matter how it is dressed up as cultural or ethic nationalism.  The ED has embarked on a strategy which could see it consigned to the far fringes of political life, rather than, as it hopes, strengthening its political appeal.

See:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/sep/25/english-democrats-electorally-credible-bnp?fb=optOut