Who supports white nationalism?

A groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature documents the characteristics that are linked to explicit support for white nationalism in the United States. The research, conducted by a team from NYU's Center for Social Media, AI, and Politics (CSMaP), reveals that support for this extremist movement is higher among young white men, those with less education and lower incomes, those who are more religious, and those who identify as Republicans or conservatives.

The study also found that social strain, such as poverty, unemployment, and personal hardships, significantly increases support for white nationalism. Interestingly, the frequency of social media use does not correlate with support for white nationalist ideas. However, the study does show that support is more prevalent among those whose closest friends are primarily online, suggesting that online activity may be more influential for socially isolated individuals.

The researchers created a new measure of support for white nationalism by directly asking study participants about their endorsement of the movement after being provided with a description of its core tenets. This innovative approach allowed the researchers to measure explicit support, as opposed to mere organizational affiliation, which was not included in the study.