And Belew explains why a far-right conspiracy theory known as the Great Replacement is so important to the white power movement in an op-ed/essay published by the New York Times on May 17. “Replacement theory is about the violent defense of whiteness.”The Great Replacement theory, in its 21st Century incarnation, originated in France with author Renaud Camus and his 2011 book “Le Grand Remplacement,” which claims that French liberals and progressives in France are trying to “replace” France’s white population with non-whites. But as Belew has been pointing out, variations of the “replacement” concept existed among white supremacists and white nationalists long before that. “It is impossible to separate Replacement theory from its violent implications, as decades of terrorism by its adherents shows us,” Belew warns. “The mainstreaming of replacement theory, whether through Tucker Carlson’s show or in Elise Stefanik’s campaign ads, will continue to have disastrous consequences….

Source: New York Times May 18, 2022 12:45 UTC