Event
Democracy and the Welfare State

Mapping the radical right in Northern Europe

The pandemic has not silenced right-wing activists. A project with the aim to further the exchange between civil society organisations against right-wing hate in the Nordic countries and Germany.

For further questions, contact:
Josefin Fürst
josefin.furst@fes.de

The pandemic has not silenced right-wing extremists. Experts warn, for instance, that the current demonstrations against Anti-Corona-measures in Germany could be used to increase support for right-wing extremist ideas. 2019 saw an increase in the number of executed and averted right-wing extremist motivated terrorism – for example with the attacks in Hanau and Halle as well as the attempts in Oslo and Denmark. The attacks are interrelated. The perpetrators of the Halle and Hanau attacks for instance claimed to be inspired by among others Anders Behring Breivik. Furthermore, many of the online hate campaigns seem to be organised. Right-wing extremists are increasingly working in networks, exchanging views and ideas and spreading information across borders.

These developments and structures pose the question of how resilient and effective counter movements are. We have invited civil society actors for a series of online exchanges with the aim to strengthen ties between anti-right-wing actors in the Nordics and Germany and in the long-term establish a Nordic-German expert network. We want to create awareness for action that can support and strengthen these important organizations' work. The content will be summarized in a written briefing with political recommendations.

Passed events

Which are the major radical right movements in Northern Europe

Expert interviews, made for the first exchange, examining groups, individuals and platforms of the radical right in the Nordic Countries and Germany:

Bilan Osman: The radical right in Sweden

Bilan Osman, Educator at Expo, on the Swedish case. Interview made by Henrik Arnstad for the first FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordics and Germany.

Susi Meret: The radical right in Denmark

Susi Meret, Associate Professor at Aalborg University, on the Danish Case. Interview made by Henrik Arnstad for the first FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordics and Germany.

Oula Silvennoinen: The radical right in Finland

Oula Silvennoinen, Historian at University of Helsinki Amadeu, on the Finnsh case. Interview made by Henrik Arnstad for the first FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordics and Germany.

Nicholas Potter: The radical right in Germany

Nicholas Potter, Amadeu Antonio Stiftung, on the German case. Interview made by Henrik Arnstad for the first FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordics and Germany.

Shoaib M. Sultan: The radical right in Norway

Shoaib M. Sultan, Writer and Human Rights Activists, on the Norwegian case. Interview made by Henrik Arnstad for the first FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordics and Germany.

Emilia Palonen: How has the radical right influenced the debate culture in Finland?

Emilia Palonen, Helsinki University, on the Finnish case. Interview made by Henrik Arnstad for the second FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordics and Germany.

How has the radical right influenced the debate culture in Northern Europe

Expert interviews, made for the second exchange, examining how the political discourse and debate culture have been influenced by the radical right:

Anna Ardin: How has the radical right influenced the debate culture in Sweden?

Anna Ardin, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College, on the Swedish case. Interview made by Henrik Arnstad for the second FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordics and Germany.

Susi Meret: How has the radical right influenced the debate culture in Denmark?

Susi Meret, Aalborg University, on the Danish case. Interview made by Henrik Arnstad for the second FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordics and Germany.

Axel Salheiser: How has the radical right influenced the debate culture in Germany?

Axel Salheiser, Institut für Demokratie und Zivilgesellschaft Jena, on the German case. Interview made by Henrik Arnstad for the second FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordics and Germany.

Cathrine Thorleifsson: How has the radical right influenced the debate culture in Norway?

Cathrine Thorleifsson, Centre for Research on Extremism, on the Norwegian case. Interview made by Henrik Arnstad for the second FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordics and Germany.

Online hate – and what to do about it

Expert interviews, made for the third exchange, examining the national experiences of hate speech in the Nordic Countries and Germany:

Hanna Gleiss: Online hate - Germany

Hanna Gleiss, Das NETTZ, interviewed by Henrik Arnstad for the FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordic Countries and Germany.

Stine Helding Rand: Online hate - Denmark

Stine Helding Rand, Centre for Digital Youth Care, interviewed by Henrik Arnstad for the FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordic Countries and Germany.

Ola Larsmo: Online hate - Sweden

Ola Larsmo, PEN International, interviewed by Henrik Arnstad for the FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordic Countries and Germany.

Mariam Tartusy: Online hate - Norway

Mariam Tartusy, Stopp hatprat, interviewed by Henrik Arnstad for the FES Nordic Countries exchange for civil society actors in the Nordic Countries and Germany.

Demands for further Action

An online exchange on the most acute needs to strengthen democracy in northern Europe. Point of departure: 20 demands on the German government, raised by the Amadeo-Antonio Foundation on the first day of the German government coalition negotiations in 2021. The demands were supported by 30 German civil society organizations that stand up against right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism and racism. The aim to push future government policies further towards strengthen democracy. You find the demands here.