At a time of plummeting trust, the extremist ideology is a powerful tool for the far-right
When German authorities detailed the evidence behind Wednesday's arrest of dozens of suspects accused of plotting a far-right coup, an already unusual story took a curious twist: Among the terrorist group's influences was the QAnon movement. But this connection should not surprise anyone, writes Zeeshan Aleem. "QAnon has had significant currency abroad for years … and data indicates they have their biggest following outside America in Germany."
"That's because QAnon serves as a useful tool for right-wing movements around the world to promote bigoted conspiracy theories and authoritarianism in thinly veiled terms," Aleem says. Common QAnon imagery "can hint at antisemitic conspiracies (such as blood libel claims) without explicitly invoking Jews, avoiding the legal restrictions on hate speech." This makes it easier for QAnon to gain acceptance — in Germany, the United States and elsewhere — among people who might recoil from other conspiracy theories. "As political institutions strain to adapt to populist political formations and declining trust," Aleem concludes, "it's a potent — and dangerous — tool." Read Zeeshan Aleem's full analysis in your Thursday MSNBC Daily. |
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