The Confederate States of America (flag, top; 1861–1865), ApartheidSouth Africa (flag, middle; 1948–1994), and Rhodesia (flag, bottom; 1965–1979) are considered archetypical examples of Herrenvolk democracy. Elections were generally free, but voting suffrage was restricted based on race, with governance that reflected the interests of the politically dominant racial group.
This elitist form of government is typically employed by one ethnic group to maintain control and power within the system. It is often accompanied with a false pretense of egalitarianism. As people of the dominant ethnic group gain freedom and liberty and egalitarian principles are advanced, other ethnic groups are repressed and prevented from being involved in the government. This principle can be seen in the development of both the United States—especially the Southern states—and South Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries.[3] In these historical scenarios, even as legislation moved toward universal male suffrage and later toward universal suffrage for white people, it also further entrenched restrictions on political participation by black people and upheld their disenfranchisement.[4]Southern Rhodesia and later Rhodesia restricted voting rights by qualifications like income and literacy, thus effectively restricting the franchise to the white population.[5] Some scholars and commentators have characterized Israel as a herrenvolk democracy due to Israel's de facto control of the occupied territories whose inhabitants may not vote in Israeli elections.[6][7]
The term was first used in 1967 by Pierre van Den Berghe in his book Race and Racism.[8] In his 1991 book The Wages of Whiteness, historian David R. Roediger reinterprets this form of government in the context of 19th-century United States, arguing that the term "Herrenvolk republicanism" more accurately describes racial politics at this time. The basis of Herrenvolk republicanism went beyond the marginalization of black people in favor of a republican government serving the "master race"; it contended that "blackness" was synonymous with dependency and servility and was, therefore, antithetical to republican independence and white freedom.[9] Consequently, the dependent white worker at this time used his whiteness to differentiate himself from and elevate himself over the dependent black worker or enslaved person.[10] According to this ideology, black people were not merely "non-citizens"; they were "anti-citizens" who inherently opposed the ideals of a republican government.[11]
^Vickery, Kenneth P. (June 1974). "'Herrenvolk' Democracy and Egalitarianism in South Africa and the U.S. South". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 16 (13): 309–328. doi:10.1017/s0010417500012469. JSTOR 17826.
^Gründer, Horst (1999). "Ideologie und Praxis des deutschen Kolonialismus" [Ideology and practice of German colonialism]. In Beck, Thomas (ed.). Überseegeschichte [Overseas history]. Stuttgart: F. Steiner. pp. 254 et seq. ISBN9783515074902.
^Anderson, T. L. "Herrenvolk Democracy: The Rise of the Alt-Right in Trump's America". Critical Theory and the Humanities in the Age of the Alt-Right. Palgrave Macmillan: 88.
^Vickery, Kenneth P. (June 1974). "'Herrenvolk' Democracy and Egalitarianism in South Africa and the U.S. South". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 16 (3): 311–315. doi:10.1017/s0010417500012469. JSTOR 17826.
^West, Michael O. (18 December 2008). "Equal Rights for All Civilized Men": Elite Africans and the Quest for "European" Liquor in Colonial Zimbabwe, 1924-1961(PDF). p. 382. doi:10.1017/S0020859000111344.
herrenvolk, democracy, form, government, with, elections, which, only, specific, ethnic, group, voting, rights, right, office, while, other, groups, disenfranchised, subtype, ethnocracy, which, refers, form, government, where, ethnic, group, dominates, state, . Herrenvolk democracy is a form of government with elections in which only a specific ethnic group has voting rights and the right to run for office while other groups are disenfranchised 1 Herrenvolk democracy is a subtype of ethnocracy which refers to any form of government where one ethnic group dominates the state with or without elections The German term Herrenvolk meaning master race was used in 19th century discourse that justified colonialism with the supposed racial superiority of Europeans 2 Confederate States of AmericaApartheid South AfricaRepublic of RhodesiaThe Confederate States of America flag top 1861 1865 Apartheid South Africa flag middle 1948 1994 and Rhodesia flag bottom 1965 1979 are considered archetypical examples of Herrenvolk democracy Elections were generally free but voting suffrage was restricted based on race with governance that reflected the interests of the politically dominant racial group Contents 1 Characteristics 2 See also 3 References 4 BibliographyCharacteristics editThis elitist form of government is typically employed by one ethnic group to maintain control and power within the system It is often accompanied with a false pretense of egalitarianism As people of the dominant ethnic group gain freedom and liberty and egalitarian principles are advanced other ethnic groups are repressed and prevented from being involved in the government This principle can be seen in the development of both the United States especially the Southern states and South Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries 3 In these historical scenarios even as legislation moved toward universal male suffrage and later toward universal suffrage for white people it also further entrenched restrictions on political participation by black people and upheld their disenfranchisement 4 Southern Rhodesia and later Rhodesia restricted voting rights by qualifications like income and literacy thus effectively restricting the franchise to the white population 5 Some scholars and commentators have characterized Israel as a herrenvolk democracy due to Israel s de facto control of the occupied territories whose inhabitants may not vote in Israeli elections 6 7 The term was first used in 1967 by Pierre van Den Berghe in his book Race and Racism 8 In his 1991 book The Wages of Whiteness historian David R Roediger reinterprets this form of government in the context of 19th century United States arguing that the term Herrenvolk republicanism more accurately describes racial politics at this time The basis of Herrenvolk republicanism went beyond the marginalization of black people in favor of a republican government serving the master race it contended that blackness was synonymous with dependency and servility and was therefore antithetical to republican independence and white freedom 9 Consequently the dependent white worker at this time used his whiteness to differentiate himself from and elevate himself over the dependent black worker or enslaved person 10 According to this ideology black people were not merely non citizens they were anti citizens who inherently opposed the ideals of a republican government 11 See also editEthnic democracy Ethnic nationalism Dominant minority Jim Crow laws Planter class Solid South Voter suppressionReferences edit Vickery Kenneth P June 1974 Herrenvolk Democracy and Egalitarianism in South Africa and the U S South Comparative Studies in Society and History 16 13 309 328 doi 10 1017 s0010417500012469 JSTOR 17826 Grunder Horst 1999 Ideologie und Praxis des deutschen Kolonialismus Ideology and practice of German colonialism In Beck Thomas ed Uberseegeschichte Overseas history Stuttgart F Steiner pp 254 et seq ISBN 9783515074902 Anderson T L Herrenvolk Democracy The Rise of the Alt Right in Trump s America Critical Theory and the Humanities in the Age of the Alt Right Palgrave Macmillan 88 Vickery Kenneth P June 1974 Herrenvolk Democracy and Egalitarianism in South Africa and the U S South Comparative Studies in Society and History 16 3 311 315 doi 10 1017 s0010417500012469 JSTOR 17826 West Michael O 18 December 2008 Equal Rights for All Civilized Men Elite Africans and the Quest for European Liquor in Colonial Zimbabwe 1924 1961 PDF p 382 doi 10 1017 S0020859000111344 https www nytimes com 2002 04 03 opinion IHT a matter of conscience israeli democracys decline html https link springer com referenceworkentry 10 1007 978 981 16 2717 0 2 1 van den Berghe Pierre L 1967 Race and Racism A Comparative Perspective NY Sydney Wiley Roediger 1997 p 172 Roediger 1997 pp 59 60 Blevins Cameron U S History Qualifying Exams Book Summaries The Wages of Whiteness Retrieved 28 September 2013 Bibliography editRoediger David R 1997 The Wages of Whiteness Philadelphia Verso Books ISBN 9781844671458 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Herrenvolk democracy amp oldid 1221192480, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
