Supremacism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Supremacism is the belief that a particular race, religion, gender, belief system or culture is superior to others and entitles those who identify with it to dominate, control or rule those who do not. Examples include supremacism based on ethnic or anthropological origins (white supremacy, black supremacy, ethnocentrism), sexuality (male supremacy, female supremacy) and religion (see below).
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[edit] Beliefs and ideas
If someone believes something is true whilst someone else believes it is false, each will probably regard the evidence and reasoning for his or her belief to be superior (more informed, more considered) than that of the other. For instance, if person X believes the Earth is flat whilst person Y believes it isn't, X would probably consider the evidence and reasoning for his or her belief to be superior to that of Y.
Supremacism, however, goes much further. A supremacist not only holds that any evidence and reasoning for his or her beliefs is superior to any other, but that those holding such beliefs have rights over those who do not.
[edit] Attempts at justification
Following the development of theories such as evolution and eugenics, supremacists have sought scientific justification for their views through notions such as Social Darwinism. The most notorious and far-reaching example is probably the Nazi belief in an Aryan master race, which ultimately led to the the Holocaust.
[edit] Historic Examples
Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party was perhaps the most well-known and documented organization in history with fundamental principles of racial supremacy. They believed in the establishment of an Aryan empire throughout Europe and Russia, where all non-Germans would be exterminated or become a slave race.
The Old Testament Torah refers to the Jews as God's "chosen race." In fact, in the book of Numbers, Moses led his people to the Holy Land, whereby to establish a Hebrew nation. The Bible says God ordered his people to kill all of the Midianites in Canaan, to purify the Holy Land for the "chosen race." Many famous Jews have stated and implied feeling uncomfortable with this aspect of their religion. However the term translated into english as "race" can probably be better described as "chosen people", since racial considerations were absent in that time. Judaism was always non-racist, and members of any races can, and could always convert to the religion. Today it is not hard to find Jews of Mediterranean, Nordic, African, Asian, Indian, or other ethnic complexion. Descriptions of Jews as a "race" were more often made by anti-semites than by Jewish people themselves.
Following the U.S. Civil War, southern whites and former Confederates formed the secret society known as the Ku Klux Klan. They preached Anglo Protestant Supremacy over all other races, as well as over Jews and Catholics.
Japan's military leaders during World War II repeatedly told the Japanese population that they were a superior race, destined to rule Asia and the Pacific.
The Jamaican-born religion of Rastafarianism preaches the supremacy of the black race and the need for Exodus back to Africa (Ethiopia).
Racial Supremacy differs from racism in that, racism is the dislike or disrespect for a particular ethnic group. Racial Supremacy is the belief that one's own race is superior, dominant, chosen, smarter, more civilized, or more productive than any other race.
[edit] Supremacist groups
The following groups, listed alphabetically, have been described as supremacist:[citation needed]
[edit] Racial supremacist groups
| Name | Supremacist ideology |
|---|---|
| New Black Panthers | black (also anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic) |
| Beni Hassan | Arab supremacist |
| Brahmanism | Brahmin supremacist |
| Creativity Movement | white |
| Darod | Arab supremacist |
| German-American Bund | white |
| Ku Klux Klan | white (also anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic) |
| Nation of Islam / Nation of Gods and Earths | black (also Islamic) |
| Janjaweed | Arab supremacist |
| United Malays National Organisation | Malay supremacist |
| Nazis, Neo-Nazis | white (Aryan) |
| European Liberation Front | European (anti-Semitic) |
| White Aryan Resistance | non-Jewish European |
| Shiv Sena | Maharashtrian ethnocentrism, Hindu |
| Sambhaji Brigade | Maratha supremacist, Anti-Brahminism |
| Goldsea | East Asian (ethnocentrism) |
| Grey Wolves | Turkish (Anti-Greek and Anti-Armenian) |
[edit] Religious supremacist groups
[edit] See also
- Black supremacy
- White supremacy
- Triumphalism
- Ketuanan Melayu, racialist belief that the Malay people are the "tuan" (masters) of Malaysia or Malaya
