User blog comment:Some Argonian Named Kesch/Stormcloak Rebellion: Is Anyone Really Right?/@comment-3539474-20131112035604/@comment-3539474-20131113050253

Now onto racism & xenophobia.

I think the word racism is an over-used, oversimplified joke. Culturalism is much more accurate at describing the situation in Skyrim.

Not racist, partially xenophobic, Stormcloaks are Nord supremacists, they're nationalistic Nord human (speciesist) supremecists. On joining the Stormcloaks, you could rationalize joining by viewing the nords as a buffer against the greater powers. The Mords seem to leave the Orcs alone for the most part, and allowed the non-Nords to join the rebellion.