ABSTRACT
Since the emergence of the English Defence League in 2009 they have been consistently situated by British media, opponents and academics as a far-right, nationalist, proto-fascist organisation motivated by hatred and racism. Drawing on rich ethnographic data from interviews with EDL activists from across England, this chapter situates the EDL as an English patriot and loyalist social movement. It explores the intricacies of activist motivation and the pivotal role of patriotism in motivating and transforming individuals into activists.
