Official Definitions of Extremism, Ethnicity and Nationalism

The UK Government Definitions of Extremism, Ethnicity &  Right Wing Ideologies appear below. Its definitions of extremism and nationalism are its own, while the definitions relating to ethnicity are drawn from legal rulings. 

Extremism

UK Government: The definition
Extremism is the promotion or advancement of an ideology [footnote 3] based on violence, hatred or intolerance [footnote 4], that aims to:
1. negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms [footnote 5] of others;
or
2. undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy [footnote 6] and democratic rights [footnote 7]; or
3. intentionally create a permissive environment for others to achieve the
results in (1) or (2).

The types of behaviour below are indicative of the kind of promotion or advancement which may be relevant to the definition, and are an important
guide to its application. The further context below is also an essential part of the definition.

 Behaviour that could constitute extremism

Aim 1 (negate or destroy fundamental rights and freedoms): Behaviour against a group, or members of it, that seeks to negate or destroy their rights
to live equally under the law and free of fear, threat, violence, and discrimination. Including: Using, threatening, inciting, justifying, glorifying or excusing violence towards a group in order to dissuade them from using their legally defined rights and freedoms.

Aim 2 (undermine, overturn or replace liberal democracy): Attempts to undermine, overturn, or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary
democracy and democratic rights. Including:

Advocating that the UK’s parliamentary democracy and democratic values and rights are not compatible with their ideology, and seeking to challenge, overthrow, or change our political system outside of lawful means.

Using, threatening, inciting, justifying, glorifying or excusing violence towards citizens, in order to dissuade them from participating freely in the
democratic process.

Subverting the way public or state institutions exercise their powers, in order to further ideological goals, for example through entryism, or by misusing powers or encouraging others to do so.

Using, threatening, inciting, justifying, glorifying or excusing violence towards public officials including our armed forces, police forces and
members of local, devolved or national legislatures, in order to dissuade them from conducting their obligations freely and fearlessly, without external interference.

Establishing parallel governance structures which, whether or not they have formal legal underpinning, seek to supersede the lawful powers of existing institutions of state.

Aim 3 (enabling the spread of extremism): Intentionally creating a permissive environment for behaviour in aim 1 or aim 2. Including:

Providing an uncritical platform for individuals or representatives of groups or organisations that have demonstrated behaviour in either aim 1 or aim 2.

Facilitating activity of individuals or representatives of groups or organisations that have demonstrated behaviour in either aim 1 or aim 2,
including through provision of endorsement, funding, or other forms of support.

The dissemination of extremist propaganda and narratives that call for behaviour in either aim 1 or aim 2.

Attempts to radicalise, indoctrinate and recruit others to an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance, including young people.

Consistent association with individuals or representatives of groups or organisations that have demonstrated behaviour in either aim 1 or aim 2
without providing critical challenge to their ideology or behaviour.

If any behaviour listed in aim 1 or aim 2 has occurred previously, a refusal by the individual, group or organisation that conducted the behaviour to
rescind, repudiate or distance themselves from the behaviour.

Right Wing Ideologies

UK Government: “Right Wing ideologies can be broadly characterised as Cultural Nationalism, White Nationalism and White Supremacism. Individuals and groups may subscribe to ideological tenets and ideas from more than one category.” 

Assessment

This then is the Government’s position and the Government’s definition of extremist ideologies relating to terrorist groups. On that basis White Nationalism and White Supremacism would plainly be race-based and international, since there are many white nationalities, while British nationalism fits the definition for Cultural Nationalism since the four nations, which make up the UK, share a broad British culture.

Scottish, Welsh, Irish and English nationalism don’t easily fit into these categories, since they demonstrate that nationalism can be left wing too.

Ethnicity and Ethnic Groups

The UK Office for National Statistics has a short explanation of the meaning of the term ‘Ethnicity’.  It draws on a House of Lords ruling as to what constitutes an ethnic group.  It lists the English as an ethnic group and tells us that the ‘“English” are part of the “White British” ethnic group, a group incorporating the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish, and no-one else.  Its explanation reads:

“Ethnicity is multi-dimensional and subjective, with various ways in which a person may choose to define their ethnic group. This may include common ancestry, elements of culture, identity, religion, language and physical appearance. It is generally accepted that ethnic group does include all these aspects, and others, in combination.”

The Law Lords definition is naturally somewhat longer, certainly not subjective, takes in the above explanation, and also includes:

“A long shared history, of which the group is conscious as distinguishing it from other groups, and the memory of which it keeps alive,”  

“Either a common geographical origin, or descent from a small number of common ancestors.” 

“A common literature peculiar to the group”

In short then – ancestry, shared history, language, culture, religion and appearance.  You will note that neither a person’s place of birth, nor where he or she is living, or has lived, are determining features of his or her ethnicity.  This is particularly so in multi-ethnic societies such as the UK (288 ethnic groups), USA (1,500 ethnic groups) and the Russian Federation (192 ethnic groups).

 All Rulings and references are attached as PDFs on the link below .