By Blaise Rego
The extreme poles of the political spectrum are threats to the foundation of democracy as they are inherently built upon unstable myths that often lead them to conflict with other groups. This post will focus upon the myths that entrench racist fears into every day politics.
The phrase “great replacement” has become a commonly held view by the far right across the world. It refers to the xenophobic idea that immigrants are coming to replace white people in North American/European societies. This idea was first penned by a homosexual writer from France, Camus, the author, began their career as a writer who position them-self on the left of France’s political spectrum. He then turned to the far right when he moved to rural France and saw that there was an increasing amount of muslim immigrants living in rural France.
The great white replacement was then spread internationally by far right groups who represented a new age of this movement. They capitalized on traditional conservative fears about immigration and created new conspiratorial fears that immigrants were colluding globally to replace white people in North America and Europe. The new right has normalized bigoted racism as concerns about policy. This has given greater credence to myths that immigrant groups are looking to come and “steal jobs and opportunities”.
Racist idea’s such as these have allowed for groups in the new right to pull racism back into real policy discussions. Across Europe tensions have gotten much more taught as far right groups stoke the flames of bigotry. From Sweden to Italy, the new right has gained power and influence by using racist myths to propel their ideas.
Hate 2.0 