Paul Matzko completes his critical review of Stephen Wolfe’s book on Christian nationalism

Wolfe cites from a Who's Who of white supremacist thought, including William Gayley Simpson, Enoch Powell, and Samuel Francis.

He does so affirmatively while stripping out just enough of the overt racism to provide a veneer of plausible deniability.

— Paul Matzko (@PMatzko) May 16, 2023

Wolfe references Simpson in order to justify his own focus on "norming the 'Western European male.'" The book's title, "Which Way, Western Man?" remains in use today as the source of an alt-Right meme. pic.twitter.com/QXxCzi5TFP

— Paul Matzko (@PMatzko) May 16, 2023

So what exactly does Wolfe think Powell was "right" about?

Powell was a Conservative MP in the UK. The only reason he's known today is for his "Rivers of Blood" speech opposing the Race Relations Bill of 1968. pic.twitter.com/H6ash7VXmw

— Paul Matzko (@PMatzko) May 16, 2023

Wolfe dismisses Powell's racism while discussing his own call for revolution in defense of “cultural particularity," which he links to the issue of immigration.

I repeat, Wolfe argues that overly lax immigration policy would justify violent overthrow of the government.

— Paul Matzko (@PMatzko) May 16, 2023

But all this pales next to Wolfe's admiration for Samuel Francis, a former conservative magazine columnist who was fired after calling for the "articulation of a racial consciousness as whites" based on their superior "genetic endowments" at a white nationalist conference. pic.twitter.com/LHtsd5nZJu

— Paul Matzko (@PMatzko) May 16, 2023

The quotation comes from an article on VDARE, a preeminent white nationalist website.

In the paragraphs preceding Wolfe's snippet, Francis criticizes America's failure to reject "non-Christian 'religious minorities'" from India, Africa, and the Middle East (ie non-white). pic.twitter.com/yGulOvdSO7

— Paul Matzko (@PMatzko) May 16, 2023

But Wolfe's admiration for Francis goes deeper. In 2022 he wrote–and recently retweeted–an essay applying Francis's theory of "anarcho-tyrranny" to the post-George Floyd protests. https://t.co/grla64sHiM

— Paul Matzko (@PMatzko) May 16, 2023

Wolfe then praises white vigilantism — ie Kyle Rittenhouse, and Wolfe has since lauded Daniel Penny — while criticizing the government for "sending a message to all white men" that they cannot defend their neighborhoods, thus "eradicat[ing] whiteness." pic.twitter.com/CL3bWg78gE

— Paul Matzko (@PMatzko) May 16, 2023

So w/ Wolfe we have someone who has read widely in the white supremacist canon, chosen to incorporate their arguments in his book, and has a personal history of expressing racist beliefs.

Truly a (White) Wolfe in sheep's clothing. Mark and avoid.https://t.co/ldiNbBNAgd

— Paul Matzko (@PMatzko) May 16, 2023