Bring the War Home
The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America
By: Kathleen Belew
A Guardian Best Book of the Year “A gripping study of white power...Explosive.” —New York Times “Helps explain how we got to today’s alt-right.” —Terry Gross, Fresh Air The white power movement in America wants a revolution. Returning to a country ripped apart by a war they felt they were not allowed to win, a small group of Vietnam veterans and disgruntled civilians who shared their virulent anti-communism and potent sense of betrayal concluded that waging war on their own country was justified. The command structure of their covert movement gave women a prominent place. They operated with discipline, made tragic headlines in Waco, Ruby Ridge, and Oklahoma City, and are resurgent under President Trump. Based on a decade of deep immersion in previously classified FBI files and on extensive interviews, Bring the War Home tells the story of American paramilitarism and the birth of the alt-right. “A much-needed and troubling revelation... The power of Belew’s book comes, in part, from the fact that it reveals a story about white-racist violence that we should all already know.” —The Nation “Fascinating... Shows how hatred of the federal government, fears of communism, and racism all combined in white-power ideology and explains why our responses to the movement have long been woefully inadequate.” —Slate “Superbly comprehensive...supplants all journalistic accounts of America’s resurgent white supremacism.” —Pankaj Mishra, The Guardian
AI Overview
Overview of "Bring the War Home" by Kathleen Belew
Author and Publication Details
- Author: Kathleen Belew, an American tenured associate professor of history at Northwestern University and an international authority on the white-power movement.
- Publisher: Harvard University Press.
- Publication Date: 2018.
Plot Summary
"Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America" is a historical book that explores the emergence and evolution of the white power movement in the United States. The book spans from the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War in 1973 to the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, an act committed by white power extremist Timothy McVeigh.
Belew argues that the modern white power movement emerged from the loss of the Vietnam War, fueled by a sense of betrayal and anti-communism. The book delves into key events such as the Oklahoma City bombing, Ruby Ridge, the Waco siege, and the Greensboro massacre. It also examines how the movement unified various militant groups, including Klansmen, neo-Nazis, skinheads, radical tax protesters, and white separatists.
The book highlights the role of women in the white power movement, noting that they played a prominent part in brokering intergroup alliances and recruiting new members. Belew also discusses the movement's paramilitary character, which was influenced by military training and culture from the Vietnam War. The command structure of the movement allowed for a disciplined and organized campaign of terror against the American public, including assassinations, mercenary soldiering, armed robbery, counterfeiting, and weapons trafficking.
Key Themes
- Emergence of the White Power Movement: The book explores how the white power movement coalesced during the conservative presidency of Ronald Reagan, driven by a sense of betrayal over the Vietnam War and anti-communist sentiments.
- Paramilitarism: Belew examines the paramilitary character of the white power movement, including its use of military tactics and training.
- Role of Women: The book highlights the significant role women played in organizing and recruiting for the white power movement.
- Historical Context: It situates the movement within broader historical contexts, including the social and economic dislocations of the 1960s and 1970s.
- Continuity and Resurgence: Belew argues that despite public revulsion following the Oklahoma City bombing, the movement remained underground and resurfaced under different conditions, including during the presidency of Donald Trump.
Critical Reception
Positive Reviews:
- Anna J. Clutterbuck-Cook in Library Journal praised the book for its necessary work in reminding readers of the long and deep history of white violence.
- Patrick Blanchfield in The Nation described the book as meticulously researched and powerfully argued.
- The Guardian included the book in its list of the best books of 2018.
Critical Reviews:
- Amy Cooter in Reason criticized the book for characterizing the militia movement as an outgrowth of the white power movement, suggesting that this characterization might be too broad.
Additional Insights
- The book provides a comprehensive history of the white power movement, filling gaps in previous scholarship and offering a clear-eyed account of its evolution.
- It highlights the ideological, political, and social infrastructure that supports current white supremacist mobilization.
- Belew's work has been influential in connecting recent events, such as the January 6 insurrection, to their historical origins, solidifying her position as a leading expert on the white power movement.
Overall, "Bring the War Home" offers a rigorous and compelling portrait of the white power movement, providing essential insights into its historical development and ongoing impact on American society.