Manitoba Opinion

Is there actually an alt-left?

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Despite Trump's claims, the so-called 'alt-left' is a figment of the very real alt-right's imagination: Rochon

Marchers in Pittsburgh on Aug. 19, one week after the deadly 'Unite the Right' rally in Virginia. U.S. President Donald Trump said the 'alt-left' was in part to blame for the violence. 'The myth of the alt-left as a dangerous movement is a creation of the right,' argues Louis-Philippe Rochon. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump recently asked about the role of the "alt-left" in the Charlottesville riots. Since then, many pundits have talked about the alt-left.

While the term has started to see some use, the question needs to be asked — is there actually an "alt-left?"

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Much has already been written and discussed about the American alt-right movement, and its role in bringing Donald Trump to power.

It is often characterized as angry, racist, fascist, bigoted, homophobic, misogynist and gun-loving. It is generally acknowledged that on almost every economic, social and political issue, its members are to the far right of the American right, with open displays and references to Nazism and the KKK.

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In light of this, many have begun to ask whether there is, in fact, an equivalent on the left.

Indeed, there is an increasing tendency to identify this alt-left, if it exists, as a way to counterbalance the American alt-right, especially since the term was used by Trump during an Aug. 15 press conference following the violence in Charlottesville.

Show more Trump says the 'alt-left' is also responsible for the Charlottesville violence 0:24

In fact, there is now a growing and influential podcast, the Chapo Trap House, often described as an alternative to the Breitbart News.

Advocates have pointed to the strength of candidates on the left like Jeremy Corbin in the U.K., Bernie Sanders in the U.S., and Jean-Luc ​Mélenchon in France (who, in the last elections, ended up doubling the support he obtained in the previous vote), but also to demonstrators and activists willing to go toe to toe with the alt-right, as proof of a steadily-rising alternative to the provocative ultra-right movement.

The political endgame was to portray this rising movement as radical and extreme.

Term coined by the alt-right

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But there are two important differences that confirm this alt-left does not exist and is really a figment of the alt-right's imagination, although this won't stop the alt-right from using the expression as much as it can.

First, the term "alt-right" was coined by right-wingers themselves as a way of registering their dissatisfaction with the way right-wing politics, and especially Republican Party politics, was developing in the U.S. It portrayed itself as an alternative to the perceived establishment right, which it saw as too soft on so many social issues.

A man makes a slashing motion across his throat toward counter-protesters as he marches with other white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the Aug. 12 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville, Va. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In contrast, the term 'alt-left' was coined, as far as I know, by those in the alt-right movement to precisely point to what they see as radical opponents to their ideas.

In other words, the alt-right desperately wanted to create its mirror image on the left, call them the "enemies" in order to better point a finger at them — which is precisely what Trump did when he blamed "both sides" for the Charlottesville riots.

Once you identify the enemy, it becomes easier to blame them. But those on the left never adopted the term, as they don't seem to suffer from the same dissatisfaction with their own ideology as those on the right. In other words, no one self-identifies with the alt-left. In fact, I have recently read some articles where sympathetic authors have specifically asked not to be identified with it.

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Second, those on the left, be they socialists or progressives, stand for a positive and inclusive reconstruction of society, and propose policies aimed at helping everyone, but especially the disenfranchised. Here, issues of race and gender are at the heart of the discussion.

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In contrast, those on the alt-right aim at tearing down society to make it better for themselves, with little concern for others. In fact, they see "others" as the cause of society's decay. It clearly excludes, as we saw in Charlottesville, everyone who is a minority or non-accepting of their narrowly focused ideas.

Resurgence of the left

So in my opinion, the alt-left does not exist. Instead, what you have is a simple resurgence of the left and a reclaiming of its traditional themes, like the danger of increasing social and economic inequality, as well as ecological and environmental issues.

This re-awakening is the result of the rise of neo-liberal and austerity policies that, after three decades, have failed everyone miserably. Those on the left are reaffirming their views, and supporting those who share those ideals.

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In the end, the myth of the alt-left as a dangerous movement is a creation of the right, propagated by such people as Sean Hannity and Fox News, where the term is quickly gaining popularity.

The true danger in all this, of course, is that as an exercise in public relations, it may have some success in portraying the left as dangerous.

How the left reacts and deals with this is where the true challenge lies.

This column is part of CBC's Opinion section. For more information about this section, please read this editor's blog and our FAQ.