neofascism Political philosophy and movement that arose in Europe in the decades following World War II. Like earlier fascist movements, neofascism advocated extreme nationalism, opposed liberal individual¬ ism, attacked Marxist and other left-wing ideologies, indulged in racist and xenophobic scapegoating, and promoted populist right-wing eco¬ nomic programs. Unlike the fascists, however, neofascists placed more blame for their countries’ problems on non-European immigrants than on leftists and Jews, displayed little interest in taking lebensraum (German: “living space”) through the military conquest of other states, and made concerted efforts to portray themselves as democratic and “mainstream.” The National Front in France, led by Jean-Marie Le Pen, and the Liberal- Democratic Party in Russia, led by Vladimir Zhirinovsky, are often cited as neofascist.
Neolithic \,ne-9-'li-thik\ Period or New Stone Age Final stage of technological development or cultural evolution among prehistoric humans. It is characterized by the use of stone tools shaped by polishing or grinding, the domestication of plants or animals, the establishment of permanent villages, and the practice of such crafts as pottery and weav¬ ing. The Neolithic followed the Paleolithic Period (and in northwestern Europe the Mesolithic) and preceded the Bronze Age. Its beginning is associated with the villages that emerged in South Asia c. 9000 bc and flourished in the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys from c. 7000 bc. Farm¬ ing spread northward throughout Eurasia, reaching Britain and Scandi¬ navia only after 3000 bc. Neolithic technologies also spread to the Indus River valley of India by 5000 bc and to the Huang Ho valley of China by c. 3500 bc. The term is not applied to the New World, though Neolithic modes of life were achieved independently there by c. 2500 bc.
neon Chemical element, chemical symbol Ne, atomic number 10. One of the noble GASes, neon is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and completely unreactive. It occurs in minute amounts in the atmosphere and is obtained by fractional distillation of liquefied air. When under low pressure, it glows a bright orange-red if an electric current is passed through it. It was dis¬ covered in 1898, and since the 1920s its chief use has been in luminous tubes and bulbs.
neoplasm See tumor
Neoplatonism Form of Platonism developed by Plotinus in the 3rd century ad and modified by his successors. It came to dominate the Greek philosophical schools and remained predominant until the teaching of philosophy by pagans ended in the late 6th century. It postulated an all- sufficient unity, the One, from which emanated the Divine Mind, or LOGOS, and below that, the World Soul. Those transcendent realities were thought to support the visible world. All things emanated from the One, and indi¬ vidual souls could rise to mystical union with the One through contem¬ plation. Though Plotinus’s thought in some respects resembles Gnosticism, he was passionately opposed to that doctrine.
neoprene \'ne-3-,pren\ Any of a class of elastomers (rubberlike syn¬ thetic organic compounds of high molecular weight) made by polymeriza¬ tion of the monomer 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene and vulcanized (cross-linked, like rubber), by sulfur, metallic oxides, or other agents. These synthetic rubbers, discovered in 1931 (see W.H. Carothers), are generally too expensive to use in making tires, but their resistance to chemicals and oxidation (see oxidation-reduction) makes them valuable in specialized applications, including shoe soles, hoses, adhesives, gaskets, seals, and foamed articles.
Neorealism or neorealismo Italian aesthetic movement that flour¬ ished especially after World War II. It sought to deal realistically with the events leading up to the war and with their resulting social problems. Rooted in the 1920s, it was similar to the verismo (“realism”) movement, from which it originated, but differed in that its upsurge resulted from the intense feelings inspired by fascist repression, the Resistance, and the war. Neorealist writers include Italo Calvino, Alberto Moravia, and Cesare Pavese. During the fascist years many Neorealist writers went into hiding, were imprisoned or exiled, or joined the Resistance. The movement reemerged in full strength after the war. Neorealism in film embraced a documentary-like objectivity; actors were often amatuers, and the action centred on commonplace situations. Often crudely and hastily made, Neo¬ realist productions stood in stark contrast to traditional escapist feature
films. Two notable examples of Neorealist films are Roberto Rossellini’s Open City (1945) and Vittorio De Sica’s The Bicycle Thief { 1948).
Neosho \ne-'o-sho\ River or Grand River River, southeastern Kan¬ sas and northeastern Oklahoma, U.S. It rises in east-central Kansas and flows into Oklahoma, where it is also known as the Grand, to join the Arkansas River near Fort Gibson. It flows about 460 mi (740 km). Neosho is an Osage Indian word meaning “clear and abundant water.” The crossing of the river at Council Grove was a starting point for the Santa Fe Trail.
Nepal \no-'p61\ officially Kingdom of Nepal Country, southern Asia. Area: 56,827 sq mi (147,181 sq km). Population (2005 est.): 27,133,000. Capitaclass="underline" Kathmandu. Most of the people are Nepalese of Indo-
Aryan ancestry; there is a significant minor¬ ity of Tibeto-Nepalese peoples. Languages:
Nepali (official), English, various others.
Religions: Hinduism (official); also Bud¬ dhism, Islam. Currency: Nepalese rupee.
Nepal contains some of the most rugged mountainous terrain in the world. The Great Himalayas, including Mount Everest, are in its central and north¬ ern parts. As a result of its years of geographic and self-imposed isola¬ tion, it is one of the world’s least-developed countries. Its market economy is mostly based on agriculture, including livestock raising; tourism is also important. Nepal is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parlia¬ ment; its chief of state is the king, and the head of government is the prime minister. The region developed under early Buddhist influence, and dynastic rule dates from about the 4th century ad. It was formed into a single kingdom in 1769 and fought border wars with China, Tibet, and British India in the 18th—19th centuries. Its independence was recognized by Britain in 1923. A new constitution in 1990 restricted royal authority and accepted a democratically elected parliamentary government. Nepal signed trade agreements with India in 1997. The country was stunned in 2001 when the crown prince killed most members of the royal family, including himself.
nepheline \'ne-f3-,len\ or nephelite Most common feldspathoid min¬ eral, an aluminosilicate of sodium and potassium (Na 3 KAl 4 Si 4 0 16 ). It is sometimes used as a substitute for feldspars in the manufacture of glass and ceramics.
nepheline syenite VsI-o-.nltV Medium- to coarse-grained igneous rock, a member of the alkali-syenite group, which consists largely of feldspar and nepheline. Nepheline syenite from Canada is used to replace feldspar in the manufacture of ceramic and glass products.
nephrite \ , ne-,frit\ Gem-quality, usually green silicate mineral in the tremolite-actinolite-ferrotremolite series of amphiboles. It is the less prized
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but more common of the two types of jade and may be distinguished from jadeite by its splintery fracture and oily lustre. Nephrite occurs in low- grade (formed under low-temperature, low-pressure conditions), region¬ ally metamorphosed rocks. Important deposits occur in China, Siberia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Alaska, and Wyoming.
nephritis \ni-'fri-t9s\ Inflammation of the kidneys. There are numerous kinds, involving different kidney tissues. The most common type is Bright disease. Symptoms vary with the type of nephritis; severe cases can result in kidney failure. Causes include infection, allergy or autoimmune disease, blockage in the urinary system, and hereditary diseases. Treatment addresses the cause where possible.