Occult Use of Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism

Abstract

Occultism significantly shaped European society, culture, and politics during the fin de siècle and interwar periods. While scholarship has extensively examined Western European and global occult movements, Eastern Europe—particularly Slavic countries—has only recently gained attention. This article compares Czech and Austrian occultism to analyze how race, ethnicity, and nationalism were integrated into occult discourses. It argues that occultism reinforced nationalist narratives by providing a sense of primordial continuity that was ideologically compelling, whether framed in terms of nation, ethnicity, or race—each serving as an occult discursive strategy to assert historical and spiritual legitimacy. Additionally, the article examines similar patterns in other Slavic countries, highlighting the adaptability of occult nationalism. By situating Slavic occultism within broader esoteric and political contexts, the article sheds new light on Central European nationalisms, their connections to esotericism, and occultism’s transnational dimensions.