White Pedestal - How White Nationalists Use Ancient Greece and Rome to Justify Hate

How white nationalist thought leaders use ancient Greece and Rome to claim historical precedent for their violent and oppressive politics
 
It is difficult to ignore the resurgence of white nationalist movements in the United States, many of which employ symbols and slogans from Greco-Roman antiquity. A long-established neo-Nazi website incorporates an image of the Parthenon into its logo, and rioters wore Spartan helmets in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. These juxtapositions may appear incongruous to people who associate the ancient world with enlightened political ideals and sophisticated philosophical inquiry. But, as Curtis Dozier points out in this thought-provoking book, it’s hard to imagine a historical period better suited to rhetorical use by white nationalists. Indeed, some of the most widely admired voices from ancient literature and philosophy endorsed ideas that modern white supremacists promote, and the social and political realities of the ancient world provide models for political systems that white supremacists would like to establish today.
 
Part introduction to contemporary white nationalist thought, part exploration of ancient racism and xenophobia, and part intellectual history of the political entanglements of academic study of the past, this book reveals that contemporary white nationalist intellectuals know much more about history than many people assume—and they deploy this knowledge with disturbing success.

About the author

Curtis Dozier

Product details

• Authors: Curtis Dozier, Dozier Curtis
• Publisher: Yale University Press Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 10.02.2026
• EAN: 9780300272734
• ISBN: 978-0-300-27273-4
• No. of pages: 288
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; USA, HISTORY / United States / 21st Century, PHILOSOPHY / Political, HISTORY / Ancient / General, 21st Century, 21st century history: from c 2000 -, 21st century, c 2000 to c 2100, Social & political philosophy, social and political philosophy, Ancient World, Social discrimination & inequality, United States of America, USA, Ancient History, History of the Americas, Ancient history: to c 500 CE, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Discrimination, Social discrimination and social justice