replacement theory

[ ri-pleys-muhnt thee-uh-ree, theer ee ]

noun

1. a demographic conspiracy theory popular among white nationalists in the United States and Europe that speculates that falling birthrates among white, native-born Christians, together with a growing population of nonwhite, non-Christian immigrants, whose arrival is believed to be encouraged or orchestrated by globalist elites with the goal of undermining national identities, will, if unchecked, result in the decline of white European culture or its dominance. white genocide.

Word History and Origins

Origin of replacement theory¹

First recorded in 1900–05 as a medical term; current sense dates to 2015–20; partly based on L’Abécédaire de l’in-nocence ( The Abecedarium of No-Harm, 2010) and Le Grand Remplacement ( The Great Replacement, 2011), books by Renaud Camus, French novelist, white nationalist, and conspiracy theorist (born 1945)

Example Sentences

Almost everyone I spoke with placed the blame on immigrants, holding the view, as Crusius did, that dark-skinned people from the global south are surging northward to overwhelm white Christians, what’s become known as the “great replacement theory.”

From Salon

This fall, the great replacement theory and the immigration crisis at the border have vaulted to the top of many voters’ concerns.

From Salon

Long before the great replacement theory became a dominant strain among mainstream conservatives — nearly 7 out of 10 Republicans have said the theory had merit — Tanton, while not using those words, began to define the term.

From Salon

It would become a treatise for the far right and help solidify the great replacement theory into popular discourse.

From Salon

The site posted dozens of articles about climate-driven disasters each year, and while it often denied warming, it was full of stories about resource scarcity and food shortages and migrants, too, all published near numerous stories about the great replacement theory.

From Salon