Roots of Radicalism

Nationalism Today

NATIONALISM TODAY was produced in support of the National Front from 1980 until it fizzled out, around 1986/87. Its birth and eventual demise were a consequence of the fractured and factional nature of British nationalist politics at that period: it was founded, in part, to fill the void left when Spearhead magazine ceased to support the NF following the 1979 splits in the party (Spearhead's editor having founded a breakaway party), and ended following the NF's terminal, internecine infighting in 1986, when it disastrously fell under the control of a small number of self-proclaimed admirers of Colonel Gadaffi.

However, for most of its existence Nationalism Today (NT) was a thought-provoking, innovative publication noted for two unusual and very distinct characteristics.

First: the extreme youth of its writers and editorial team. The three joint editors of its earliest editions had an average age of around nineteen. As time went by it attracted a wider range of contributors, including many venerable 'greybeards' in their twenties. However, the magazine never lost its air of youthful rebelliousness. This proved to be a vice as much as virtue – many published articles took challenging new positions on subjects that had been shamefully ignored by Nationalists in the past, yet other articles sometimes indicated a shallow, naïveté on the part of the authors.

Secondly: NT made a serious attempt to change the whole landscape of British Nationalist politics. It realised that if British Nationalism were to be taken seriously it was not enough to call for the repatriation of immigrants, if all that meant was that Britons could then look forward to being stuck in an all-white dole queue.

NT argued that traditional Nationalist policies, on immigration, the 'Common Market' (as the European Union was then popularly known) and anti-communism were not enough: British Nationalists had to develop 'radical' policies on socio-economic issues. Industrial ownership was a favourite topic for debate: NT regularly called for industry to be organised along the lines of employee co-operatives, and was generally in favour of the principle of Distributism, holding that the widespread distribution of ownership of private property and private enterprise was a public good.

Controversially, at the time, NT argued the Nationalism was, and had to be, as much anti-capitalist as it was anti-communist – both threatened the identity and freedom of peoples around the world. Today the deleterious consequences of globalism and global capitalism are all too apparent and widely accepted by British Nationalists – forty years ago this was not always the case.

Note on publication dates: Issues of Nationalism Today were only dated from issue 23, July 1984 onwards. It is possible that the previous issues were deliberately left undated to disguise the irregularity of publication of the magazine, in its early years. The dates shown here are believed to be broadly accurate.

Issue 1 (January 1970)

Nationalism: Moving Forward into the 1980's (Joe Pearce)

TRADE UNIONS: OUR TASK (NICK WAKELING)

Issue 1 (January 1970)

Nationalism: Moving Forward into the 1980's (Joe Pearce)

TRADE UNIONS: OUR TASK (NICK WAKELING)

Issue 2 (July 1980)

Sinking the rural roots of Nationalism (NICK WAKELING)

WHY WORLD CAPITALISTS CRAWL TO CHINESE COMMUNISTS (Steve Brady)

Issue 2 (July 1980)

Sinking the rural roots of Nationalism (NICK WAKELING)

WHY WORLD CAPITALISTS CRAWL TO CHINESE COMMUNISTS (Steve Brady)

Issue 3 (October 1980)

CONSETT STEEL CLOSURE 'ECONOMIC NONSENSE'

INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW BRONS

Issue 3 (October 1980)

CONSETT STEEL CLOSURE 'ECONOMIC NONSENSE'

INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW BRONS

Issue 4 (January 1981)

A DEFINITION OF CAPITALISM (JOE PEARCE)

U.N. THREATENS THE FINAL FRONTIER (STEVE BRADY)

Issue 4 (January 1981)

A DEFINITION OF CAPITALISM (JOE PEARCE)

U.N. THREATENS THE FINAL FRONTIER (STEVE BRADY)

Issue 5 (April 1981)

BRITAIN'S HOMELESS: VICTIMS OF CAPITALISM (Nick Wakeling)

THE AFTERMATH OF BRIXTON (Nick Griffin)

Issue 5 (April 1981)

BRITAIN'S HOMELESS: VICTIMS OF CAPITALISM (Nick Wakeling)

THE AFTERMATH OF BRIXTON (Nick Griffin)

Issue 6 (July 1981)

Industrial Ownership and Racial Nationalism (JOE PEARCE)

THE BLACK RIOTS: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ESTABLISHMENT (Joe Pearce, Nick Griffin, Nick Wakeling)

THE MIGHTY ATOM: FRIEND OR FOE? (Steve Brady)

Issue 6 (July 1981)

Industrial Ownership and Racial Nationalism (JOE PEARCE)

THE BLACK RIOTS: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ESTABLISHMENT (Joe Pearce, Nick Griffin, Nick Wakeling)

THE MIGHTY ATOM: FRIEND OR FOE? (Steve Brady)

Issue 6 (July 1981)

Industrial Ownership and Racial Nationalism (JOE PEARCE)

THE BLACK RIOTS: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ESTABLISHMENT (Joe Pearce, Nick Griffin, Nick Wakeling)

THE MIGHTY ATOM: FRIEND OR FOE? (Steve Brady)

Issue 7 (October 1981)

"WE ARE NOT MARXISTS - WE ARE NOT CAPITALISTS" (Andrew Brons)

PROPAGANDA versus PRIDE (Paul Deacon)

Issue 7 (October 1981)

"WE ARE NOT MARXISTS - WE ARE NOT CAPITALISTS" (Andrew Brons)

PROPAGANDA versus PRIDE (Paul Deacon)

Issue 8 (February 1982)

ONE WORLD – NO THANKS (PAUL DEACON)

OPPOSE NUCLEAR POWER! (Nick Wakeling)

Issue 8 (February 1982)

ONE WORLD – NO THANKS (PAUL DEACON)

OPPOSE NUCLEAR POWER! (Nick Wakeling)

Issue 9 (April 1982)

National Front Trade Unionism (DAVID RILEY)

THE THREAT OF THE MULTINATIONALS (STEVE BRADY)

Issue 9 (April 1982)

National Front Trade Unionism (DAVID RILEY)

THE THREAT OF THE MULTINATIONALS (STEVE BRADY)

Issue 10 (June 1982)

How Capitalism Destroys Your 'Pint' (Steve Brady)

THE INVASION OF AUSTRALIA (David Greason)

Issue 10 (June 1982)

How Capitalism Destroys Your 'Pint' (Steve Brady)

THE INVASION OF AUSTRALIA (David Greason)

Issue 11 (August 1982)

ONE DAY IN HACKNEY (PAUL COMBEN)

TOWARDS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FREEDOM (NICK GRIFFIN)

Issue 11 (August 1982)

ONE DAY IN HACKNEY (PAUL COMBEN)

TOWARDS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FREEDOM (NICK GRIFFIN)

Issue 12 (October 1982)

A. K. CHESTERTON: RADICAL NATIONALIST (DEREK HOLLAND)

Does the Militant Tendency know too much? (STEVE BRADY)

Issue 12 (October 1982)

A. K. CHESTERTON: RADICAL NATIONALIST (DEREK HOLLAND)

Does the Militant Tendency know too much? (STEVE BRADY)

Issue 13 (December 1982)

BOOK REVIEW: THE IDENTITY OF ULSTER (TOM ACTON)

PETER HAIN'S 'FIVER' (Martin Webster)

Issue 13 (December 1982)

BOOK REVIEW: THE IDENTITY OF ULSTER (TOM ACTON)

PETER HAIN'S 'FIVER' (Martin Webster)

Issue 14 (January 1983)

OXBRIDGE: “Why I Hate You” (MICHAEL WALKER)

STOCK EXCHANGE-LEGAL SWINDLE (STEVE BRADY)

Issue 14 (January 1983)

OXBRIDGE: “Why I Hate You” (MICHAEL WALKER)

STOCK EXCHANGE-LEGAL SWINDLE (STEVE BRADY)

Issue 15 (March 1983)

INDUSTRIAL FRONT: MINERS' DEFEAT IS BRITAIN'S DEFEAT

Protect British Industry From Imports! (JOE PEARCE)

Issue 15 (March 1983)

INDUSTRIAL FRONT: MINERS' DEFEAT IS BRITAIN'S DEFEAT

Protect British Industry From Imports! (JOE PEARCE)

Issue 16 (May 1983)

ANSWERING THE CAPITALIST CASE AGAINST IMPORT CONTROLS (Joe Pearce)

SOUTH AFRICA: Bring back real Apartheid! (MARK HASTINGS)

Issue 16 (May 1983)

ANSWERING THE CAPITALIST CASE AGAINST IMPORT CONTROLS (Joe Pearce)

SOUTH AFRICA: Bring back real Apartheid! (MARK HASTINGS)

Issue 17 (July 1983)

CONFRONTATION POLITICS IN FRANCE (Nick Griffin)

SMALL BUSINESSES: A POLICY FOR REVIVAL (Andrew Brons)

Issue 17 (July 1983)

CONFRONTATION POLITICS IN FRANCE (Nick Griffin)

SMALL BUSINESSES: A POLICY FOR REVIVAL (Andrew Brons)

Issue 18 (September 1983)

AN ULSTER LOYALIST SPEAKS OUT (George Seawright)

RACE: What the scientists say (part 1) (Steve Brady)

Issue 18 (September 1983)

AN ULSTER LOYALIST SPEAKS OUT (George Seawright)

RACE: What the scientists say (part 1) (Steve Brady)

Issue 19 (November 1983)

RACE: What the scientists say (part 2) (Steve Brady)

THE URBAN ANIMAL (PAUL COMBEN)

Issue 19 (November 1983)

RACE: What the scientists say (part 2) (Steve Brady)

THE URBAN ANIMAL (PAUL COMBEN)

Issue 20 (January 1984)

Editorial: ON THE GREEN FRONT

RACE: What the scientists say (part 3) (Steve Brady)

Issue 20 (January 1984)

Editorial: ON THE GREEN FRONT

RACE: What the scientists say (part 3) (Steve Brady)

Issue 21 (March 1984)

RACE: What the scientists say (part 4) (Steve Brady)

Troubleshooting (Joe Pearce)

YESTERDAY'S HEROES (ADRIAN WILTSHIRE)

Issue 21 (March 1984)

RACE: What the scientists say (part 4) (Steve Brady)

Troubleshooting (Joe Pearce)

YESTERDAY'S HEROES (ADRIAN WILTSHIRE)

Issue 21 (March 1984)

RACE: What the scientists say (part 4) (Steve Brady)

Troubleshooting (Joe Pearce)

YESTERDAY'S HEROES (ADRIAN WILTSHIRE)

Issue 22 (May 1984)

A Revolution Betrayed (part 1) (Derek Holland)

RACE: What the scientists say (part 5) (Steve Brady)

Issue 22 (May 1984)

A Revolution Betrayed (part 1) (Derek Holland)

RACE: What the scientists say (part 5) (Steve Brady)

Issue 23 (July 1984)

A Revolution Betrayed (part 2) (Derek Holland)

TOWARDS A RE-UNITED GERMANY (JOE PEARCE)

Issue 23 (July 1984)

A Revolution Betrayed (part 2) (Derek Holland)

TOWARDS A RE-UNITED GERMANY (JOE PEARCE)

Issue 24 (September 1984)

Mondragon: where workers own and owners work ( JOE PEARCE)

Why Reds Scab on the Miners (STEVE BRADY)

Issue 24 (September 1984)

Mondragon: where workers own and owners work ( JOE PEARCE)

Why Reds Scab on the Miners (STEVE BRADY)

Issue 25 (November 1984)

Dennis Kearney and the struggle for a White America (Joe Pearce)

Issue 26 (January 1985)

THE CASE FOR AN ETHNIC CULTURE (ALAN DALE)

THE ROOTS OF BRITISH NATIONALISM (Andrew Brons)

Issue 26 (January 1985)

THE CASE FOR AN ETHNIC CULTURE (ALAN DALE)

THE ROOTS OF BRITISH NATIONALISM (Andrew Brons)

Issue 27 (March 1985)

Is the Red Flag coming down? (Dave Stevens)

THE 1974 ULSTER WORKERS STRIKE (DAVID KERR)

Issue 27 (March 1985)

Is the Red Flag coming down? (Dave Stevens)

THE 1974 ULSTER WORKERS STRIKE (DAVID KERR)

Issue 28 (April 1985)

THE HIGH COST OF 'PROGRESS' (E. J. MISHAN)

THE REBECCA RISING (PAUL MATTHEWS)

Issue 28 (April 1985)

THE HIGH COST OF 'PROGRESS' (E. J. MISHAN)

THE REBECCA RISING (PAUL MATTHEWS)

Issue 29 (May 1985)

EUROPE - Learning From The Tragedy (DAVE STEVENS)

NOTTING HILL UPRISING 1958 (JOE PEARCE)

Issue 29 (May 1985)

EUROPE - Learning From The Tragedy (DAVE STEVENS)

NOTTING HILL UPRISING 1958 (JOE PEARCE)

Issue 30 (June 1985)

Cruise Missiles Threaten YOU (GERALD SMITH)

DEFENDER OF THE INNOCENT (Hans Ruesch)

Issue 30 (June 1985)

Cruise Missiles Threaten YOU (GERALD SMITH)

DEFENDER OF THE INNOCENT (Hans Ruesch)

Issue 31 (July 1985)

THE BUYING OF MR CHURCHILL (Gary Rossi)

White Revolt on the Rand

Issue 31 (July 1985)

THE BUYING OF MR CHURCHILL (Gary Rossi)

White Revolt on the Rand

Issue 32 (August 1985)

CANADA DRY - A SOAP OPERA (DAVE STEVENS)

THE SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE ( JOE PEARCE)

Issue 32 (August 1985)

CANADA DRY - A SOAP OPERA (DAVE STEVENS)

THE SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE ( JOE PEARCE)

Issue 33 (September 1985)

ADVERTISING ― The Subtle Poison (NICHOLAS MILLS)

The Hollow Victory (DAVE STEVENS)

Issue 33 (September 1985)

ADVERTISING ― The Subtle Poison (NICHOLAS MILLS)

The Hollow Victory (DAVE STEVENS)

Issue 34 (October 1985)

The Identity Of Freedom (PAUL COMBEN)

Why Band Aid will kill blacks (JOHN THORNTON BANNERMAN)

Issue 34 (October 1985)

The Identity Of Freedom (PAUL COMBEN)

Why Band Aid will kill blacks (JOHN THORNTON BANNERMAN)

Issue 35 (November 1985)

THE RIOTS: An Open Letter to Blacks in Britain (Nick Griffin)

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM (Eddy Butler)

Issue 35 (November 1985)

THE RIOTS: An Open Letter to Blacks in Britain (Nick Griffin)

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM (Eddy Butler)

Issue 36 (February 1986)

'The Political Soldier' (GRAHAM GILLMORE)

The 'Big Apple' Crumbles (Joe Pearce)

Issue 36 (February 1986)

'The Political Soldier' (GRAHAM GILLMORE)

The 'Big Apple' Crumbles (Joe Pearce)

Issue 37 (March 1986)

1066 – The year Saxon England died (Paul Comben)

DRUGS & DEGREDATION: MEMORIES OF PENTONVILLE (MARTIN WINGFIELD)

Issue 37 (March 1986)

1066 – The year Saxon England died (Paul Comben)

DRUGS & DEGREDATION: MEMORIES OF PENTONVILLE (MARTIN WINGFIELD)

Issue 38 (April 1986)

A LESSON IN SOLIDARITY (CLIVE WAKELY)

Britain needs nuclear power (Steve Brady)

Issue 38 (April 1986)

A LESSON IN SOLIDARITY (CLIVE WAKELY)

Britain needs nuclear power (Steve Brady)