identitarianism

Identitarianism is a political and cultural movement that centers on the idea that the identity of a people—often defined by ethnicity, language, culture, or heritage—should be preserved and prioritized within political life. The term describes both a broad set of identity-related ideas and a loose activist network that emerged in Europe and North America in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The movement is often linked to strands of the European New Right and to intellectual currents that critique liberal universalism and multiculturalism.

A core proposition is ethnocultural continuity: societies should maintain distinct cultural or civilizational forms rather than political supra-nationalization. Many identitarians advocate restrictive immigration policies and argue that demographic change threatens traditional ways of life. The theory of ethnopluralism, associated with some proponents, holds that different civilizations should live separately to preserve their identities. Critics describe identitarianism as ethnonationalist, essentialist, or exclusionary.

Organizationally, identitarian groups have carried out campus, street, and media campaigns, and have used digital activism, symbolic imagery, and provocative stunts to gain attention. In Europe, groups such as the Identitäre Bewegung (Germany) and Génération identitaire (France) have been the most visible; authorities in several countries have banned or restricted identitarian organizations—Germany banned the movement in 2020, and France dissolved Génération identitaire in 2021. In other countries, groups operate discreetly or under different names.

Scholars and policymakers generally debate the classification and impact of identitarianism, noting its influence on immigration discourse and its potential to normalize exclusionary rhetoric. See also ethnonationalism, the New Right, and ethnopluralism.