The far right in Europe opposes the immigrant community, ISIS, and Islam.
Opinion
This article talks about Islamophobia in Europe.
As a supporter of European far-right populism, it is important to study its movements, individuals, and perspectives on various topics relating to Europe as well as the Middle East. This paper, "Europe's Far Right Looks Closely At The Middle East," is an attempt to achieve just that.
The Far Right is a broad term used to describe those supporting right-wing authoritarian politics in the 1930s who sought to roll back democracy and re-establish fascist governments in Germany, Italy, and Spain, among other places. In general, Far-Right movements are anti-democratic, anti-intellectual, anti-Semitic, and opposed to immigration.
Although Europe's Far Right movements differ widely, they all share similar characteristics like anti-European values, support for neo-fascist movements around the world, opposition to multiculturalism, opposing social cohesion, and anti-immigrant sentiment.
While Europeans often associate Islamophobia with the Middle East, this perspective also has roots in Western Christian tradition, particularly anti-Semitism. It has been argued by some scholars that the concept of jihad against Jews emerged during the Crusades, and by the time the first Islamic empire arose, Judaism had become a vital part of the Arab identity, making conversion a central issue for many Muslims today.
In recent years, Europe's Far Right movements have started to turn their attention towards the Middle East, particularly since the rise of ISIS. Since ISIS can be seen as a form of Christian terrorism that rejects Western secularism and promotes a radical interpretation of Islam, it seems fitting for the Far Right to view its campaigns as a battle against an enemy shared by both its religious and political beliefs.
However, the Far Right movement is not new to criticizing the Middle East. In the 1940s and 50s, Far Right Europeans also critiqued European Jewish immigrants who were accused of having a negative impact on the nation. There were debates around German, Italian, and Spanish Far Right movements about the role of Jewish immigrants, whether their presence contributed to or hindered society, and which ones were more likely to assimilate into society versus those who rejected assimilation.
Today, European far right populists are more likely to blame the immigrant community in general rather than a specific group of people, Muslims. They argue that the rise of ISIS has caused the number of migrants to increase, mostly because they want to escape the war-torn regions of the Middle East.
Far Right movement's anti-Muslim discourse often focuses on Islamic terrorism, and on how Muslims support extremist groups. It is often characterized by conspiracy theories, misinformation, and sensationalism regarding the Muslim world. Far right Europeans also point out the fact that many Islamic terrorists come from middle-class or privileged societies. Their attacks often highlight the fact that extremism can be found among any socio-economic class.
On the other hand, a growing number of pro-democracy activists and journalists are pointing towards the real reasons why ISIS gains power. The lack of economic and social opportunity in areas like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Libya are cited as the main causes. As such, it is important to challenge this narrative that blames Muslims alone for creating the problem.
It is easy to see how negative views of the Middle East have become synonymous with anti-Semitism, as both have historically been critical of Jews while ignoring the fact that many Jews were born Muslims and spoke Arabic. Moreover, the concept of Israel, which defends Jewish communities against persecution in Muslim lands, represents a legacy of Western colonialism.
In conclusion, although Europe's Far Right movements view the Middle East negatively due to their anti-Muslim agenda, they do not necessarily discredit the region as a whole. The debate between those who view it positively or negatively goes beyond the geographical boundaries of the Middle East. They often argue that the region has not been democratic enough, with some countries facing political repression, religious intolerance, and even genocide.
Therefore, it is crucial to study the dynamics between the political and religious views of the European Far Right movement as well as any potential links to jihadist terrorism. It is also essential to question the legitimacy of these beliefs and critically analyze them from various perspectives. By doing so, we can better understand the root causes of extremism, its nature, and possible solutions. In the long term, we may uncover ways to promote cooperation between different groups while keeping the region peaceful.
