The term "ethnomasochism," a blend of ethnic self-hatred and masochistic indulgence in one's own cultural downfall, has entered into broader discourse as a critique of Western elites' embrace of multiculturalism. Coined by French New Right thinker Guillaume Faye in the early 2000s, it paints a picture of affluent, progressive Westerners (often coded as "white liberals") who, in their zeal for diversity and inclusion, actively undermine their own heritage, demographics, and societal cohesion. As the Aporia Magazine piece (see link below) argues, this manifests in policies like mass immigration, preferential treatment for newcomers, and a cultural narrative that lionises foreign achievements while vilifying Western history as one of plunder and exploitation.This phenomenon seems uniquely concentrated among white Western liberals, viewed by outsiders, like my Chinese students, as a baffling form of civilisational suicide. And crucially, China shows no signs of sipping the same poison.

At its core, ethnomasochism describes a psychological or ideological inversion where a dominant group derives virtue from self-flagellation over historical sins (colonialism, slavery, inequality) while elevating minorities or immigrants as morally superior. Faye, in works like Why We Fight, framed it as a pathological response to post-WWII guilt, amplified by Leftist academia and media. Critics on the far-Right, including identitarian movements in Europe, use it to decry policies like affirmative action, open borders, and DEI initiatives as tools of "white extinction" or demographic replacement; the Great Replacement.

In the Aporia article's lens, this plays out as "xenophilia," an unnatural favouritism toward outsiders, enforced by propaganda and fear of social ostracism. The piece likens it to a "dead man's brake': A default human instinct (mild xenophobia, or wariness of strangers) is overridden by elite-driven narratives requiring constant energy to sustain. Without that push, via education, media, and penalties for dissent, it snaps back to tribalism. This, "racial self-abuse' is consumed mainly by white Western liberals, who prioritise globalist ideals over national preservation.

Evidence abounds in policy: Europe's post-2015 migrant influx, often against public will, led to quotas and two-tier systems favouring newcomers in housing and jobs. In the U.S., civil rights-era reforms morphed into broader "anti-racism" frameworks, where critiquing immigration risks labels like "racist" or "xenophobe." A 2020 Sage Journals piece on "white extinction" in far-Right metaphysics highlights how this fuels backlash, with extremists viewing liberalism as a suicidal creed, which it is. Yet, as the article notes, this isn't organic; it's top-down, with elites insulating themselves in homogeneous enclaves while preaching diversity.

Why white Western liberals? Socioeconomic data points to education and class: A 2024 Oxford study on far-Right accommodation notes that progressive ideologies dominate academia and media, where self-critique signals moral sophistication. Pew polls show U.S. liberals (often college-educated whites) overwhelmingly support immigration and multiculturalism, viewing them as strengths, while conservatives see threats to culture. This aligns with the"ethnomasochism" label.

X posts amplify this: Users like @stillgray warn of a "doom spiral" from "suicidal empathy," with migrants and youth dismantling the system. @GnosisWolf rants against "disgusting attacks on western and white nations," decrying unchecked migration as demographic warfare. This self-abnegation is a luxury of secure elites, as the Aporia piece quips, "Those shouting loudest about accepting more refugees don't live alongside them."

My interactions with Chinese students rings true — many view Western multiculturalism as naive folly. A 2020 Diplomat article on Chinese attitudes toward immigrants reveals divided views: While urban elites are neutral or positive, ethno-nationalists fear cultural dilution. China, facing demographic decline, staunchly resists mass immigration; a 2024 ISPI piece notes it doesn't see itself as an "immigration country," prioritising ethnic homogeneity. Reddit threads echo: "PRC Chinese don't like multiculturalism," citing "culture genocides" and materialism over diversity. A Facebook post claims Chinese believe "no country can survive multiculturalism for long," predicting Western collapse by 2050 without reversal.

X captures the amazement: @notXiangyu details Chinese migrants' hardships in the U.S., urging end to hostility for mutual benefit. @DrewPavlou mocks Leftists praising China's "lack of homelessness," exposing the hukou system's internal borders that treat rural migrants like illegals. @dr_duchesne praises China's achievements via "racial homogeneity," rejecting diversity. Quora users note Asians handle multiculturalism via strong cultural cores, unlike the West's "melting pot" chaos. A 2021 SpringerOpen paper on China's ethnic integration stresses "civicism and multiculturalism" for minorities, but not open borders. Bottom line: China views Western policies as self-sabotage, opting for selective migration and Han-centric unity. Good for them too.

The Aporia thesis holds water: Xenophilia demands energy Western elites expend via propaganda, but cracks show as public fatigue grows; witness rising populist parties in Europe and U.S. border debates. Ethnomasochism, while hyperbolic, captures a real asymmetry: White liberals lead the charge in self-abnegation, often from positions of privilege, while non-Western powers like China prioritise sovereignty and homogeneity. My Chinese contacts' "amazement at the stupidity" isn't isolated; it's a global echo. As this is civilisational grave-digging; the West might reconsider before the brake fails entirely.

https://www.aporiamagazine.com/p/dead-mans-brake