racialism

Meanings

1. The belief that humans can be categorized as belonging to distinct races, each race being characterized by fixed and heritable traits.
2. Racism, the belief in the existence of different races and that some are superior to others; policies or practices which promote the dominance of one or more races over others.
3. Tribalism, nationalism.

Etymology

From racial + -ism. Coined in 1882 based on the older use of "race" as a synonym of "nation, tribe, ethnic group", later senses (from 1890) from the use of "race" for racial categories.