Supremacism
From Free net 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, straight supremacism) and religion (see below).
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Beliefs and ideas
There is a distinction to be made between supremacism and the holding of beliefs. 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 than this. 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.
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.
Supremacist groups
The following groups, listed alphabetically, have been described as supremacist:
Racial supremacist groups
| Name | Supremacist ideology |
|---|---|
| New Black Panthers | black (also anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic) |
| Creativity Movement | white |
| 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 |
| Nazis, Neo-Nazis | white (Aryan) |
Religious supremacist groups
| Name | Supremacist ideology |
|---|---|
| Al Qaeda / GSPC / Saudi Arabian government | Salafi Islamic |
| Al-Muhajiroun | Islamic |
| Hamas / Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade / Islamic Jihad | Palestinian Islamic |
| Hizb ut-Tahrir | Sunni Islamic |
| Muslim Brotherhood | Sunni Islamic |
| National Liberation Front of Tripura | Christian, anti-Hindu |
| Christian Identity groups | Christian, anti-Semitic (also white) |
| Shiv Sena | Hindu |
| Takfir wal Hijra | Takfiri Islamic |
| Vishwa Hindu Parishad | Hindu |
| Kach and Kahane Chai | Jewish |