Document:Norway Massacre Catalyst For Realignment Of European Right Wing Movements
article by Patrick Henningsen dated 2011-07-29Subjects: 2011 Norway attacks
Source: 21st Century Wire (Link)
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Norway Massacre Catalyst For Realignment Of European Right Wing Movements
The Norway Massacre has grabbed the lion’s share headlines around the world, but not solely due to the human tragedy element of the event. A larger ripple effect is because Anders Breivik’s allegedly authored a 1,500 page ideological “manifesto”, one which is currently being dissected by the media, political institutions, law enforcement and academics throughout Europe and contains the new seeds for an extremist Far Right movement.
What is important to note here is that the conclusions and perceptions drawn from his modus operandi will have a fundamental effect of the position of Far Right and Left Wing extremist movements in the near future. Both genuine terrorist and false flag terror events will always redefine the genre. There exist many different definitions of “terrorism”, most have these contain premeditated, politically motivated violence or the threat of violence, targeting civilians, being perceived as a non-state actor, all in the hopes of ”sending a message” to the general public or a government.
We’ve already established that the mass shooting in Norway was no mere random attack, as those student victims were specifically targeted, making it a clear case of political assassination on a mass scale not seen before in recent history. By anyone’s measure, such an event can be classed as a ”game changer” in terms extremist political agendas. In this case, it was the Young Protestant Labour Party of Norway, who only days before publicly condemned Israel’s apartheid system, opting instead to recognized a bona fide Palestine State. Politically, Norway was poised for a complete withdraw of any support for Israel, including divestment and academic boycotts . Breivik responded with a violent massacre of that party’s future generation.
Hence, Anders Breivik has not been classified as a terrorist in the vain of an Al Qaeda or an IRA, rather he has already been labeled by the media as a Right Wing “political extremist”. What is traditional Right Wing Extremism? The old board looked as follows: nationalism, racism, anti-immigration and xenophobia, fascism and a strong self-sufficient state. As a result, of the many-sided concept of ‘right wing’, it consists of many different factions, groups and organizations. The same can be said for the Left Wing. So is Europe returning to the days when its cities and towns were being ravaged by a cacophony of real terror and state sponsored terror groups like NATO’s own Operation GLADIO, The Red Brigades, IRA, Red Army Faction, Action Directe, Black September, and the PLFP?
Out of that chaos came order. Are we looking at a new, reordering of the political landscape, a New Order? In Europe, as in the wider world, it certainly looks that way, and big changes are afoot.
The European Common Market and Union was introduced by European elite bureaucrats in order to attain stability and forge new alliances. Following the Cold War and the tumbling of the Berlin Wall, the EU came in with a bang and enjoyed a brief honeymoon up until the long, protracted recession which became evident in 2007. Currently, the once solid Eurozone is fraying at the edges, as the International banks have been preying shamelessly on many of its fledgling economies, including Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Iceland. The result of this economic trend is a marginalisation of the middle class and the ever-widening gap between the lower classes and the financial and bureaucratic elite.
This of course, is a recipe for fomenting the worst aspects of Right Wing extremism, as well as Left Wing- in case anyone hasn’t noticed, previously banished anarchists are currently back in fashion in Greece and Spain. Breivik’s manifesto, like it or not, will be a centre of influence, particularly for young Right Wing foot soldiers, for the sad reason that they will be inspired by his armed action and bravado. Interestingly enough, Breivik’s supposed support of Israel and Zionism will garner sympathy from previously stringent anti-Jewish Neo Nazi affiliates, and this is potentially the most massive shift on the chess board of the Far Right. Pro-Israeli Right Wing extremists and Neo Nazis.
Although at its early stages, recent events like this will have a massive impact in the near future and should be monitored. These shifts in alliances and groups will also be fueled by the mainstream media’s typically lazy and surface-oriented take on events and political score keeping. All the while, real changes brew under their radar.
Far right politics also push the belief that both superiority and inferiority is an innate reality between individuals and groups, normally rejecting the liberal tenet of social equality. Extremists often support segregation, like we have seen with Breivik’s reaction against multiculturalism. This is not surprising from the right, and although Europe enjoyed a brief respite from its ugly head over the last 20 years, the destruction of the economy and the state’s eventual inability to deliver its social benefits to the growing ranks of unemployed will certainly allow the xenophobic card its chance to return to the political table.
On many levels, this is a recipe for civil unrest in Europe, and many activists will unfortunately be looking for the greatest impact- or the biggest bang for their buck. Breivik succeeded here- hitting his ideological enemies in the heart. What this space, watch the moves on the political chess board.
