Michael de Laine

Research into right-wing extremism shows ‘alarming divergences’ between societies view of themselves and citizens’ need for national identity

By Michael de Laine, Copenhagen, 24 February 2009

There is an alarming divergence between the way liberal western societies see themselves and many of their citizens’ very real need for a national identity and for the rejection of anything that is unfamiliar, Swiss research shows. Right-wing extremism is either ignored or exaggerated. Both are a hindrance to objective discussion.

The latest and final publication of the Swiss National Research Programme ‘Right-wing extremism – causes and countermeasures’ (NRP 40+) takes the international context into account and finds an alarming divergence between the way liberal western societies see themselves and many of their citizens’ very real need for a national identity and to protect themselves from anything they perceive to be alien.

“Even if a society disapproves of right-wing extremism, a considerable section of the population concerned is both xenophobic and racist in its attitude,” the report states.

Right-wing extremism also exists in Switzerland. It is primarily encountered in adolescents and young adults. In transitional phases of young people’s lives, right-wing attitudes and modes of behaviour are a way of standing apart or over-adjusting.

The research project looked not only at right-wing extremism, but also at the conditions allowing it to emerge and its environment, which also includes right-wing populism.

This has a long tradition in Switzerland and has assumed a leading role internationally since the 1960s. “The greater the importance of right-wing populism, the greater the ability of right-wing proponents to capture attention,” the researchers note.

The report devotes special attention to extreme political stances in a media system that applauds sensationalism and tends to overstate and moralise on right-wing extremism.

“This hinders an objective discussion of the issue, which affects society as a whole and makes implementing any solutions more difficult,” the report says.

Switzerland’s Federal Council has resolved to set up an appropriate monitoring instrument, but the report says that the effectiveness of prevention programmes is difficult to substantiate. At a local level, key institutions (like the state, schools, police, youth work, church, associations) join forces to prevent extremism and alert the population to episodes of right-wing radicalism.

“Carrying out regular surveys of xenophobia, racism and right-wing extremism would also raise Swiss awareness,” the report stresses.

Commissioned by the Federal Council in 2003, the research project has gained new insights into right-wing extremism in Switzerland, factors in its development, how it expresses itself, where it occurs, its consequences and attitudes towards it.

The results of the 13 research projects create the basis for future-focused strategies in dealing with right-wing extremism at municipal, cantonal and national level. The programme also links research into right-wing extremism in Switzerland to corresponding research projects in other countries.

Written by Dr Marcel Niggli of the University of Fribourg’s Seminar for Criminal Law, the new report, ‘Right-wing Extremism in Switzerland – National and International Perspectives’, has been published by Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden.