Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories such as the QAnon ideology have spread across Europe during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Berlin Amadeu Antonio Foundation. Assumptions about alleged elites, lockdown decisions and vaccination campaigns can now be found in right-wing extremist groups across the continent, according to the study presented today on right-wing extremism – and terrorism in Europe.
Europe as a common „Occident“
For the study „State of Hate – Far Right Extremism in Europe“, 12,000 citizens in eight European countries were surveyed on political and social issues on behalf of the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, the British non-governmental organization HOPE not Hate Charitable Trust and the Swedish Expo Foundation . The study also presents country reports on 32 countries.
The US conspiracy ideology QAnon has spread mainly in Great Britain and Germany and is cultivated by different scenes. Right-wing terrorism is also a danger. Even if right-wing extremists are otherwise inclined to nationalism, they regard Europe as a common “Occident” that must be “defended”.
The discussions about measures to counter the pandemic have displaced the normal political debate and fueled negative attitudes from part of the population towards minorities, for example. Right-wing extremists could draw on pessimism and distrust until normality returns.
