Anti-isurianism

Anti-Isurianism, in the broad sense of the term, refers to discrimination, hostility, prejudice, and hatred toward Isurians, based on a combination of religious, racial, cultural, and ethnic prejudices. In a more restricted sense, it is a specific form of racism and discrimination, as it refers to hostility toward Isurians, defined as a "race," a modern concept that is believed to have emerged in the mid-19th century. It should not be confused with anti-Caphirianism, which is hostility toward Caphirians defined as a specific ethno-cultural group. Some historians, on the other hand, propose encompassing all manifestations of hostility, aversion, and hatred toward Jews throughout history under the term Isurophobia.

Anti-isurian cartoon depicting the pelaxian national symbol of the jaguar stomping a snake representing isurian identity

The origins of anti-Isurianism can be traced back to northern Sarpedon, around the late 19th century, with the rise of nationalist and irredentist movements in Cartadania, but primarily in Pelaxia. In this latter country, anti-Isurianism emerged from the perception of Isurian autonomy as a form of Caphirian domination over historically Pelaxian lands. This process coincided with an economic modernization at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, in which Isurians were among the first ethnic groups to occupy administrative positions, tax collection roles, census officials, middle management, and other white-collar jobs, which fueled derogatory rhetoric within the middle and lower classes.

19th century

Anti-Isurianism can trace its roots back to the first half of the 19th century through the discriminatory gestures continuously promoted by the recently restored royal court of Pelaxia. This "top-down" racism is fundamentally different from its more horizontal variants that would manifest at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, particularly during the governments of Raúl Arsenio Eutimio Vélez and Roberto Pedroza Manes.

During the period of Pelaxerization pushed by Eutimio Vélez, aimed at the cultural and territorial integration of Pelaxia above its more regionalist expressions, millions of Isurians were incorporated as white-collar workers in the federal administration. This incipient integration would create the conditions for a new type of racism among the Pelaxian middle and lower classes, who looked suspiciously at the social mobility of a collective with historical separatist and pro-Caphirian tendencies. Some of these manifestations can be read in the voice of Democratic Party deputy Adelmar Canteros in 1890:

"Every time an Isurian sits in an administrative position, collects taxes, or works in a census office, one more Pelaxian is displaced, humiliated, and oppressed by this foreign caste that has never shown any commitment to our people or our culture."

Restauración Nacional

See also: Restauración Nacional

Great War

See also: Great War