Description
Throughout its history, the British military has been subject to right-wing infiltration by groups seeking to either directly influence its development or at least learn the military skills it offers. By examining three distinct case studies this paper will assess whether or not the British military has developed any particular practices in dealing with those who may eventually pose a threat to the state, or whether each response has been ad hoc and entirely context-dependent. Each case study will also focus on a distinct right-wing group and period and how it was managed by the authorities. These cases will be the British Union of Fascists before and during the Second World War, Northern Irish Loyalists during the Troubles, and National Action in recent years. The findings of this paper suggest that the British military at times treads a fine line between ensuring right-wing extremists are kept out of its ranks and offering themselves as a welcoming organization in order to try and control these individuals. This, in turn, suggests that the British military responds to each period in a tailored way that best aligns with its immediate operational rather than ethical needs.
Key Words: Military recruitment, Right-Wing Extremism, British Military, British Politics
