Online Backlash Against “Identity Politics”: Discursive Constructions of Social Movement Activism in “Alt-Right” and “Dirtbag Left” YouTube Videos

Abstract

This thesis analyses constructions of anti-racism, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights activism in YouTube videos associated with the “alt-right” and “alt-lite”, and in YouTube videos which exhibit a “dirtbag Left” sensibility. It examines hostile constructions of such activism as forms of so-called “identity politics”. The alt-right/-lite is a loose confederation of white nationalists, anti-feminists, trolls, conspiracy theorists, and public intellectuals who share a belief that feminist, anti-racist, and LGBTQ+ rights activists are very powerful in developed Western countries, and work to secure preferential treatment for women, non-white people, and LGBTQ+ people at the expense of straight white men. Online content-creators and communities labelled “dirtbag Left” adopt a similar aesthetic to the alt-right/-lite and appear to court a similar demographic, but believe that high-profile strains of feminism, anti-racism, and LGBTQ+ rights activism have capitulated to neoliberalism and now serve the interests of economic elites at the expense of working-class people. In response to gaps in the literature concerned with these phenomena, this thesis examines characterisations of social movement activism uploaded to YouTube by members of each cohort. It subjects claims made therein to critical analysis. This thesis examines the extent to which the hostility of online content-creators towards identity politics reflects real problems within contemporary social movements. It also examines the extent to which the dirtbag Left imports the alt-right/-lite’s prejudices when courting its audience. This thesis meets these aims through two case studies, which analyse online discourse produced by the British reactionary Carl Benjamin – a.k.a. “Sargon of Akkad” – and the Australian social democrat Jordan Shanks – a.k.a. “friendlyjordies”. Three key themes are found to comprise Benjamin’s negative portrayal of social movement activism: activists for “identity” movements are illiberal, unscientific, and uncool. However, this thesis argues that Benjamin misrepresents both his opponents and himself to achieve these constructions. His aversion cannot be considered a response to the real prevalence of these traits. His attempts at principled critique often rationalise the privilege of historically dominant groups. This thesis next analyses the critique of “identity” activism which the left-wing Shanks pitches at people otherwise targeted by alt-right/-lite discourse, and analyses the techniques he employs to reach them. Shanks highlights some instances in which neoliberal actors and institutions engage with feminist, anti-racist, and LGBTQ+ rights activism in ways which further their economic ends. However, Shanks also trivialises issues of race, gender, and sexuality in general. His complaints about identity politics involve many of the same narratives identified in Benjamin’s discourse and similarly rationalise the privilege of historically dominant groups. In some cases, Shanks picks up these narratives when he engages with the alt-right/-lite’s discourse in an effort to make his own content more attractive to its audience. Overall, this thesis demonstrates that ostensibly principled critiques of anti-racism, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights activism from a prominent member of the alt-right/-lite on YouTube are based on inaccurate depictions of these movements, and serve to defend the relative privilege of dominant groups. It finds that critiques of “identity” movements from a prominent member of the dirtbag Left on YouTube, despite their occasional merit, dismiss feminism, anti-racism, and LGBTQ+ rights activism in general, and contain prejudices imported from the alt-right/-lite.