I've got a few thoughts on this (caffeine addled as hell but still there) I'll add.
I've been sort of an observer of this kind of shit for years, and I've noticed something so I'll make a few comments about what I've noticed. But to understand the Alt-Right (or at least understand it as I do) some qualifications must be stated.
So here's what I'll state about the alt right, and expand as I go on.
- The Alt-Right is a coalition
- The Alt-Right has been around for decades
- The Alt-Right is pretty batshit overall
- Alt-Right movements tend to crop up every once in a while
First, and possibly the most crucial bit about understanding the alt-right lies in the fact that much like any real group of connected people, it has subgroups and cultures. When Ebola or Jaimias complains about the Alt-Right label getting tossed around at certain groups that in their mind aren't connected with the Alt-Right, they're both right and wrong about what they're saying. They're right in that yes, some of these groups aren't entirely part of the alt-right, but wrong in that there are members of the general alt-right coalition that belong to these groups and have basically formed a splintergroup in the altright camp. Political affiliation really is more of a series of overlapping circles that tend to cluster together, though there's always outliers (sic). I'm just going to throw out a few broad labels of what I generally consider to be groups mostly in the Alt-Right coalition at this point, though as an alliance of convenience or not is up for argumentation.
Traditional Reactionaries: Sort of a easy gimmie. These guys and gals pine for the good old days however they define them, where kids didn't play loud music, society was more respectable, or whatever sort of dreamy nostalgic term comes to mind. Usually not the most batshit among the alt-right, but certainly can be (the Schafly's are in my mind perfect examples of this group.)
Rightward Leaning Tinfoilers: The hardcore conspiracy theorist type. Think Infowars 'THE CLINTONS ARE REPTILIANS OUT TO MURDER EVERYONE BUT THE JEWS WHO HAPPEN TO ALSO BE REPTILIANS' guys who earnestly believe jetfuel can't melt steel beams. This is a pretty broad circle, as I speculate that pretty much every circle in every political group has at least ONE tinfoiler movement. They also can be found in the other circles I mention as part of the alt-right.
Fascists/Neo-Nazis: Lets face it, they're about as much of a gimmie for this as there could be. I'm pretty sure they're almost all on the bandwagon of this general movement by now, no kidding.
Dark Enlightenment/Fedoralords: Sort of a mix of the above three groups to a degree, these are the guys that really crack me up the most. Yes, let's ditch the Enlightenment all together, where your intellect and wits will surely make you a valuable member of society... except those things now have far less value, so get to work in the fields peasant.
/pol/lacks and /r9k/: Possibly the most public face at this point in general of the alt-right movement, and one of the real glues keeping it together in that they are the meme machine for the rest to glean shit off of. Some are really just fringe members, some are dedicated, some just want to watch the fun. Moving on
Trumpettes: No matter how much you complain, or moan, I firmly believe that the general hardcore support base for Trump's campaign (and lets fucking face it a good chunk of his campaign staff) are in the Alt-Right. In general, marked mostly by the slavish devotion to the slaying of the Clintons, building of WALLS, and probably in the market for terrible overpriced frozen steak and failing airlines and casinos. Another broad overlap group
The Deplorables: KKK/White Nationalists. Really that simple. Note that they're a group that also overlaps heavily with the Fascist section.
Militias and Paramilitaries: Lastly, the group possibly most likely to commit violence if something doesn't go their way. Usually firmly anti-government, very 'MUH FREEDOMS' and can be found muttering about their plans to bomb the post office because uncle sam will put them in a FEMA camp to about twelve different federal agents who've infiltrated the group.
Really, at this point with the GOP pretty much firmly in civil war, the current thing keeping the Alt-Right together is the shared hatred of the 'Mainstream establishment' (IE classical conservatism and less batshit crazy ideas) and the 'Liberal/Intellectual/Other'. But the thing is, that's what brings me to my second point. These groups (with a few exceptions) have been around for years and years, probably since fucking mesopotamian civilization to really quite recently. But what they usually lack is any sort of unifying glue or purpose to rally around.
Right now, Trump, and sheer stubborn hate of everything not in their particular circle sort of keeps them from devouring one another in a cannibalistic orgy of violence and memes. This situation won't last forever though.
Number three, the pretty fucking crazy bit? If you've been on this site for a while, you'll have picked up on a lot of these altright groups being a bit... unhinged. Kind of comes with the territory of being outsiders.
As for number 4, look up the Know-Nothing-Party. I honestly consider them the spiritual precursor to the Trumpettes, as they echo so so MANY of the same sort of grievances and general distaste for anything remotely establishment.
