Out of the many examples that contribute to the global rise in right-wing extremist sentiments, Malaysia cannot be excluded. Malaysia is known as a multi-ethnic and culturally diverse nation....Show moreOut of the many examples that contribute to the global rise in right-wing extremist sentiments, Malaysia cannot be excluded. Malaysia is known as a multi-ethnic and culturally diverse nation. However, this public identity is in contrast with the political reality of Malaysia. This multi-ethnicity comes paired with ethnic segregation, where political parties only represent their ‘own’ ethnicity and their ‘own’ people. Though the ethnic Malay community is the most privileged in the country, politicians spread the idea that the ethnic Malays are under a constant threat of marginalization by ethnic minorities. To take this a step further, the privileged position of the ethnic Malay community is protected through the Constitution, resulting in the exclusion of ethnic minorities from political and public spheres. Advocating for ethnic equality and inclusive politics is considered to be going against the Constitution and is taken as a direct attempt at subordinating the Malay community. This has resulted in far-right sentiments surrounding the position of the Malay community vis-àvis the ethnic minorities. In this context, this paper analyses how institutionalized practices of ethnic segregation in Malaysia have created an environment of right-wing extremism.Show less
This paper examines the level of diffusion of characteristics between the Dutch and American Proud Boys groups. It does so by comparing eight different characteristics of each group. The study has...Show moreThis paper examines the level of diffusion of characteristics between the Dutch and American Proud Boys groups. It does so by comparing eight different characteristics of each group. The study has found that there is only a marginal level of diffusion. Moreover, the study finds that there is limited information available on Dutch RWE networks and proposes that more research needs to focus on this. Additionally, it finds that researching small RWE groups should be approached differently. Instead of considering the group as one, each member should be researched independently, as ideologies can differ significantly between members of small groups.Show less
Rechtsrock plays a key role in the right-wing extremist scene in Germany. Subcultural-oriented right-wing extremists hold a leading role in the organisation of Rechtsrock events and festivals....Show moreRechtsrock plays a key role in the right-wing extremist scene in Germany. Subcultural-oriented right-wing extremists hold a leading role in the organisation of Rechtsrock events and festivals. Right-wing extremists aim towards a young target group that feels a sense of identity and community when attending Rechtsrock events. Moreover, the events pose an opportunity for right-wing extremists to acquire financial means. The financial profit gained via Rechtsrock events, for example, via entrance fees and food stalls, can be used to finance activities and aims of right-extremists. The hypothesis of this thesis states that the implemented measures to combat the financing of right-wing extremism via Rechtsrock events lack strength and effectiveness. The research question: "Which strength do the legal and non-legal actions taken in Germany have to effectively combat the financing of right-wing extremism through Rechtsrock events and festivals since 2017?”, analyses the measures implemented at various Rechtsrock events. The chosen Rechtsrock events are the events with the highest attendance rates. The implemented measures at each event are assessed by using a theoretical three-step model as used by Weiss (2020). The results show that the measures are lacking in strength to effectively target the financing of right-extremism via Rechtsrock events. Three recommendations are presented to improve the current measures: Increase the insight into tax information of Rechtsrock events, investigate strains of financing via Rechtsrock events, and educate actors about right-wing extremist financing via Rechtsrock events.Show less
Based on the Alt-Right Movement in the United States, Study Association Erkenbrand was established in the Netherlands in 2016. Their ideology is based on the notion of White supremacy and therefore...Show moreBased on the Alt-Right Movement in the United States, Study Association Erkenbrand was established in the Netherlands in 2016. Their ideology is based on the notion of White supremacy and therefore they are against ethnic and racial blending. Ultimately, Erkenbrand wants to create a White ethnostate free from (minority) groups, such as migrants, Jews and Muslims. Therefore, Erkenbrand has their own website where they post propaganda articles about current social developments, events and other topics related to their different values within their ideology. This study aims to explore the themes within Erkenbrand’s propaganda articles in 2021 to analyze the nature of their content and which themes occur most often. Combining grounded theory with framing theory, 92 propaganda articles were analyzed to also investigate how Erkenbrand frames those key themes within their ideology to its followers as this could possibly radicalize them and/or stimulate them to use violence. Findings showed that key themes within Erkenbrand’s propaganda are nationalism, White supremacy, degradation of culture, anti-migration, and anti-left/liberal and anti-government sentiments. Furthermore, Erkenbrand argues that the White race is declining and being replaced by other ethnic groups due to mass immigration. According to Erkenbrand, the (leftist and/or liberal) government is to blame for not protecting the Western culture, tradition and White race by making secret agreements and conspiring against the ‘real’ Dutch citizens.Show less
The terrorist attacks of Halle (2019) and Hanau (2020) are two examples of recent killings inspired by right-wing extremism in Germany. The manifestos written by the two shooters show significant...Show moreThe terrorist attacks of Halle (2019) and Hanau (2020) are two examples of recent killings inspired by right-wing extremism in Germany. The manifestos written by the two shooters show significant differences in ideology, both through their style and their content. This paper explores to what extent these differences can be reconciled under the same concept of far-right ideologies. This research project, based on grounded theory, consisted of a discourse analysis applied on both manifestos. The two manifestos, selected in accordance with theoretical sampling, were coded in three steps, following the Charmaz approach to grounded theory. The manifestos mainly exhibited, to significantly different extents, four principal aspects: a) conspiracy theories, b) the construction of a nationalist identity and antagonization of ‘internal’ enemies, c) the stigmatization and targeting of groups due to ethnic or religious differences, and d) the interrelatedness of right-wing extremist ideologies and various subcultures, mostly stemming from the internet. All four of these aspects have been documented in other pieces of right-wing extremist writings, showing the difficulty of clearly delimiting the concept of right-wing extremism or even more precise movements contained within it.Show less
Many individuals become radicalised, but only a small amount of people commit violent crimes. This idea is explored by using “emotional pull”, which can be described as irrational behaviour due to...Show moreMany individuals become radicalised, but only a small amount of people commit violent crimes. This idea is explored by using “emotional pull”, which can be described as irrational behaviour due to the influence of emotions, to find out why some individuals turn violent. this concept is part of a larger theoretical framework based on Social Movement Theories. Research is carried out by doing thematic analysis on autobiographies from former violent right wing extremists. By coding the different books, three themes have occurred. Volatility is the first theme, which encompasses the fact that built-up anger and frustrations cause critical situations to turn violent. The second theme is Clouded Mind and Irrationality. Violent group culture blurs rational individual train of thought and creates a situation where only the goal of the extremist organisation is considered the right one. The individual becomes blind for anything else. The third theme is Emotional Selectivity, where certain emotions that are beneficial for the skinhead lifestyle are amplified, but the emotions that do not, are buried away. An emotional pull will put an individual in a fragile situation where violent behaviour is the outcome.Show less
On the 15th of March 2019, the Linwood Islamic Church centre and the Al-Noor Mosque in Christchurch had been the target of a terrorist attack. The perpetrator of this attack, Brenton Tarrant, had...Show moreOn the 15th of March 2019, the Linwood Islamic Church centre and the Al-Noor Mosque in Christchurch had been the target of a terrorist attack. The perpetrator of this attack, Brenton Tarrant, had released a manifesto in which he cited NATO`s intervention of Kosovo in 1999 as one of the motives behind his attacks. However, this was not the sole instance in which Tarrant referred to the Yugoslav wars, as he was listening to the song ""Karadžić, Lead your Serbs!"" (also known as God is a Serb) prior to his arrival to the Al-Noor Mosque. Additionally, the guns used by Tarrant were brandishing the names of several individuals including those of that the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović and Miloš Obilić. These references to Prince Lazar and Milos Obilic are significant, as they are part of the Kosovo Myth and by extension the Heavenly Serbia discourse which are linked to violence within the region, especially towards Muslims. In light of this, the purpose of this paper is to assess to what extent the discourse of the Christchurch shooter is inspired and or connected to the Heavenly Serbia discourse. In order to explore this relationship, this paper applies a critical discourse analysis on The Great Replacement written by Tarrant.Show less
This thesis primarly sets out the story behind the rise of Pegida, Germany's most notorious social movement of the 21th century. Furthermore, it investigates the link with the EU and attempts to...Show moreThis thesis primarly sets out the story behind the rise of Pegida, Germany's most notorious social movement of the 21th century. Furthermore, it investigates the link with the EU and attempts to find out to what extent two of Germany's most prominent newspapers, Bild and Sueddeutsche Zeitung, have contributed to, or hampered, the emergence of the Dresden-born movement.Show less
