Not Unprecedented: A Return to a Herrenvolk Democracy
This is not a retreat it is a return
Every day now, headlines scream about “unprecedented” attacks on democracy. Commentators and columnists call this moment shocking, as if the ground has suddenly shifted. But for many of us Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian, immigrant folks, this is not new ground. We’ve been living on unstable terrain since the very foundation was poured.
So let’s name what’s really going on here: this is not a breakdown of democracy. It’s the logical outcome of a desire to RETURN to a particular kind of democracy, a Herrenvolk democracy. What is that? It is a democracy where freedom, equality, and participation are preserved for a dominant racial group, and denied to the rest.
What is a Herrenvolk Democracy?
The term “Herrenvolk” comes from German, meaning “master people.” Sociologist Pierre van den Berghe defined Herrenvolk democracy as a political system that is democratic for the dominant group but tyrannical for all others. In practice, it’s the extension of rights, representation, and equality only to those within the “in-group,” usually defined by race.
Kenneth Vickery, in his comparative study of the U.S. South (Jim Crow America) and apartheid South Africa, explains how movements for greater democracy among whites were routinely paired with increasing oppression of Black and Brown people. He writes:
“The extension of political democracy among whites... was accompanied by retrenchment in the status of blacks. These two processes were part of the same social dynamics.”
This isn't some historical relic. Herrenvolk democracy has evolved its language and tactics—but not its core aim: limiting access to democracy.
It’s Not a Bug. It’s a Feature.
When people reach for analogies from abroad—Nazi Germany, Putin’s Russia—it often reflects an unwillingness to acknowledge American precedent. But these aren’t foreign ideas; they’re homegrown.
They’re not hiding it. They’re broadcasting it:
Conservative commentator Robby Starbuck, in a March 2025 Nikkei Asia interview, said DEI artificially raises “disadvantaged people to the same level as white males” and called that "a communist concept."
Steve Bannon dismissed constitutional constraints, saying of Trump’s court appeals: “The Constitution is open for interpretation.”
Source →Donald Trump outright called for the “termination” of parts of the Constitution to reverse his election loss.
Source →
And the policies follow the rhetoric. The SAVE Act imposes new voting barriers, especially for married women whose IDs no longer match their birth certificates. It’s a modern-day literacy test in bureaucratic form.
“Obtaining that marriage certificate is an additional cost, administrative burden, and extra penalty that other voters do not have to do… These might all seem like trivial costs, but they all add up.”
— Atiba Ellis, via NPR
Democracy for me, but not for thee.
In Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work, I write:
“If a foundation is lopsided, then everything built on top of it will lean. Eventually, something will crack.” — Qualified, Chapter 6
We're watching those cracks now because in a Herrenvolk Democracy, institutions such as the Supreme Court, school boards, state legislatures, and the workplace only exist to serve the reinforcement of Herrenvolk; if not, they have no value and power. Those who seek this system do not view the current attacks as a malfunction; instead, they see it as returning to its original intent.
This Isn’t About Losing Democracy. It’s About Keeping It From Expanding.
The fear isn't that democracy is disappearing; rather, it is that the pursuit of inclusion and diversity is undermining it. The fear is that it might finally belong to all of us.
To those who support it, a return to a Herrenvolk democracy is not a break from democracy; it is a restoration, because it was never intended for anyone BUT them.
Is Herrenvolk Democracy Just for the Elite?
Yes and No. One of the most dangerous aspects of Herrenvolk democracy is that it not only serves the elite but also recruits the non-elite white population to protect the elite’s power.
Herrenvolk democracy creates a false sense of inclusion among poor or working-class white people by offering them racial status in place of economic equity. It says:
“You may not have wealth or power, but at least you're not them.”
This helps explain why:
Poor white Southerners supported slavery, even though they owned no slaves.
White workers fought against Black workers for access to “white jobs,” even if the jobs paid little.
Today, some working-class white voters support policies that harm them economically, as long as those same policies also exclude or punish others.
As I say in Qualified:
“Racism is not just hatred—it’s strategy. It’s a shell game of false elevation, designed to protect the status quo.” — Qualified, Chapter 4
Herrenvolk systems rely on horizontal enforcement, where neighbors are pitted against one another, and workers are pitted against one another.
7 Ways White People Can Resist Herrenvolk Democracy
This isn't just about Black and Brown people. Herrenvolk democracy tricks white people into defending a system that doesn't work for most of them either. Here’s how to resist being used as a tool of exclusion:
1. Name the System
Call it what it is. When democracy is only for some, that’s not democracy, it’s Herrenvolk rule. Use the language that reveals, not conceals.
2. Reject the Racial Trade
Don’t fall for the illusion of status. Being ‘above’ others racially doesn’t fix job insecurity, healthcare costs, or lack of opportunity.
3. Ask Who the Rules Are For
In your job, your school, your community, ask: Who is being asked to prove themselves? Who gets the benefit of the doubt?
4. Stop the Horizontal Policing
Refuse to be the enforcer of elite rules. When you're encouraged to 'watch' others at work, in stores, at the polls, ask yourself: Who benefits from this mistrust?
5. Tell the Whole Truth
Challenge sanitized histories. Speak about redlining, lynching, stolen land, and exclusionary immigration laws. Don’t let comfort erase truth.
6. Build Cross-Racial Coalitions
Real power comes from joining forces with others who have also been shut out. Show up for workers, renters, and organizers who look different but want the same justice.
7. Use Your Voice, Not Just Your Vote
Vote, yes, but also speak out at work, in classrooms, at school board meetings, and online. Use your position to shift the narrative, not protect the myth.