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Dec 21, 2020 11 tweets 5 min read Read on X
A short THREAD which attempts to summarize the interesting & informative paper: 'MORBID SYMPTOM: IMMIGRATION AND THE RISE OF FAR -RIGHT POPULISM IN WESTERN EUROPE', by Ayaz Rzayev.

It contains pragmatic suggestions for stemming the rise of the Far Right, which deserve a hearing.
ALL Far-Right parties across Europe:

▶️Emphasise 'nativism' rooted in myths about an idealised past, & hostility towards immigration

▶️Have programs directed toward making the nation more ethnically homogeneous & returning to 'traditional values' of Western civilization.
ALL Far-Right parties across Europe:

▶️Accuse the establishment of favoring their own narrow self-interests over the interests of the people

▶️Try to avoid explicit #racism by emphasising 'the Muslim threat' & welfare costs of immigration.
ALL Far-Right parties across Europe:

▶️Have a distinct identity sharing a unique perception of reality based on a fear of an invading foreign culture destroying Western civilization from within

▶️Try to turn back the clock to a more ethnoculturally homogenous & familiar time.
However, there are core features that many on the far right & the 'far left' share.

They both:

▶️Feel that established institutions that traditionally provided & sustained collective identities are (from different perspectives) becoming eroded, or are being destroyed.
The far right AND far left:

▶️Oppose many economic & social changes brought about by globalization, which have 'left them behind'

▶️Believe the political establishment serves global corporatist interests, is dishonest & corrupt, & doesn't care about the opinions of the majority
To defeat the far right & prevent history repeating, it isn't enough to simply demonize them & expose the often awful & polarising things they say & do, including their use of inflammatory rhetoric - we urgently need to find ways of decreasing the demand for far-right populism.
Mainstream parties should consider abandoning the dismissive elitist discourse of constantly questioning the moral-intellectual competence of indigenous populations, which only marginalizes them further, & instead engage non-extremist natives on the merits & flaws of their views.
Such an engagement could decrease the perception of political elites as being aloof & unaccountable, & weaken the appeal of far-right populists in the long run.

Many elites hesitate - sometimes understandably - to address valid concerns about immigration & national identity.
Too often when political elites do take up these concerns, they brand them as motivated *solely* by racism or Islamophobia, which may sometimes be true, but is counterproductive.

Elites should adopt a nuanced approach on immigration, & take positions more grounded in pragmatism.
As well as any economic effects of immigration, the Left should not be scared to acknowledge the cultural impact of mass immigration, & directly address the issue of how we talk about class, ethnicity & integration, as well as suggesting concrete measure to reduce polarization.

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More from @docrussjackson

Jul 29
🧵

Voters need to know how right-wing populist nationalist politicians and radical/far-right nativist extremists construct their divisive discourse and rhetoric to exploit the anti-elite climate and fuel violence and division - and what to do about it.

yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/the-s…Image
So what can be done to counter divisive narratives and framing and to help Britain to become a more open, inclusive, fairer, less polarised and better multicultural society?

I make several suggestions in the above article, but make more below, Image
Countering the extreme right’s narrative of feeling "attacked" and needing to "defend" national identity requires a strategic, multi-faceted approach that challenges their framing while addressing underlying concerns and emotions.

Read 25 tweets
Jul 28
🧵

The shameless lie that "Britain is lawless" is categorically false, as it contradicts empirical data on crime trends, rule of law metrics, and the functioning of UK institutions. Reform UK often use fearmongering exaggeration and selective framing to create a sense of crisis. Image
Official data from the ONS and Home Office indicate that overall crime rates in England and Wales have fluctuated but do not support the notion of a "lawless" state. The ONS reported a 7% decrease in total recorded crime (excluding fraud) from 2023 to 24.

theconversation.com/most-crime-has…
Violent crime, while a concern in certain areas of the UK, has not reached levels that would justify describing Britain as "lawless."

The cowardly elites that run Reform UK would never dare to describe Trump's USA as "lawless" - despite its significantly higher homiced rate. Image
Read 19 tweets
Jul 21
🧵

#OnThisDay, 21 July, 1969, the Chicago Daily News published: The ‘love it or leave it’ nonsense, by Sydney J. Harris.

It began: One of the most ignorant and hateful statements that a person can make is “If you don’t like it here, why don’t you leave?”

I reproduce it, below. Image
Harris was born in London in 1917, moving to the US in 1922. A formidable journalist who established a distinct voice integrating incisive social commentary with wit and humour, his weekday column, ‘Strictly Personal’, was syndicated in 200 US newspapers. Image
The ‘love it or leave it’ nonsense, by Sydney J. Harris.

One of the most ignorant and hateful statements that a person can make is “If you don’t like it here, why don’t you leave?”

That attitude is the main reason America was founded, in all its hope and energy and goodness. Image
Read 16 tweets
Jun 29
🧵

A few thoughts on Bob Vylan leading the #GlastonburyFestival crowd in chants of "Death to the IDF" (Israeli Defence Force), livestreamed by the @BBC, and the mischaracterisation of the chant by some MPs, news media, and activists. Image
In England, where #GlastonburyFestival is located, all of us have the right to freely express our criticism of anyone or anything - as long as there is no intent to provoke immediate unlawful violence or there is a reasonable likelihood it will occur as a consequence.
In England, free speech is protected under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998. However, inciting violence is a criminal offence under several laws which attempt to balance public safety with free expression rights.

There are a number of key provisions in UK Law.
Read 29 tweets
Jun 26
🧵

Socially isolated and radicalised online, Marcus Monzo, 37, was convicted of murdering 14-yr-old Daniel Anjorin and attacking others with a sword.

He was fascinated by violence, far-right extremism, Incel ideology, conspiracy theories and figures like Musk, Tate, and Hitler. Image
UK society is insufficiently concerned about the harms of extreme online material of the kind pushed by the far-right, incels, & conspiracy theorists.

Debate is too often framed as being about free speech, rather than its sometimes horrific consequences.

actearly.uk/radicalisation…
In many countries, especially since Musk bought Twitter/@X, underregulated online extreme content has been used to groom and radicalise vulnerable people.

Too many cowardly politicians are scared to speak up for fear of being branded 'anti-free speech'.

Read 30 tweets
Jun 10
🧵

Some MPs who have been in parliament for many years NEVER appear on any of the @BBC's "flagship" politics shows - but Reform's privately educated shit-stirring 'anti-elite' former Tory Sarah Pochin - an MP for FIVE WEEKS - gets her own special introduction on #PoliticsLive. Image
Politicians using dangerously irresponsible anti-Muslim rhetoric know their comments are normalising Islamophobia and endanger British Muslim women. Islamophobic incidents rose by 375% in the week after Boris Johnson called veiled Muslim women “letterboxes” in 2018.
#PolitcsLive Image
Britain prides itself in NOT being the sort of country that tells women how to dress. States that do dictate women’s clothing (eg Iran, Sudan, Saudi Arabia) are vilified as misogynistic & ultra-controlling: the antithesis of the enlightened, liberal west.
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Read 11 tweets

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