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I came across a social media post calling for a demonstration, which in my opinion is perfectly fine. However, the title deeply concerned me: “Sweden Against Islamization,” scheduled with the same time in four major cities across the country.
The person who shared the post is, to my knowledge, a loving and kind individual with grandchildren on the way, who has grown up surrounded by healthy and educated people throughout their life.
This made me wonder: if such a “good” person can support a polarizing movement, how does this affect the average person? It made me question if people really understand what populism is?
My name is Kristina Zahida Cassandra Rosic, and I am studying Political Science as well as Development and International Cooperation at Södertörn University. I have also studied Religious Studies (30 ECTS) at Uppsala University, and I am the Secretary General of the non-profit organization Aikkiya – Voices for Peaceful Diversity, working together against violent extremism.
I am also a board member of the Stockholm United Nations Association and the Tenants’ Association in Solna, and I serve as an elected member of the Rent Tribunal in Stockholm.
The purpose of this article is to highlight how the dangerous power of populism exploits people’s fears and insecurities to create division in society, and to provide you with the tools to recognize and counteract its influence. At the end of the article, you will find the references I have used as the basis for this piece.
What Is Populism?
Populism can briefly be defined as a political strategy or style that views society as divided into two antagonistic groups: the “pure people” and the “corrupt elite” (Mudde & Kaltwasser, 2017).
Populist leaders use this dichotomy to portray themselves as the only true representatives of the people’s will, while depicting the elite as enemies of ordinary citizens.
This simplified dichotomy creates an us-versus-them mentality that can be extremely effective in mobilizing support, but is also deeply divisive.
1. Populism’s Exploitation of Fear
Populism’s success is often linked to its ability to exploit fear.
In a world where economic uncertainty, globalization, and cultural change create anxiety, populism offers simple answers to complex problems.
By identifying a scapegoat—whether it be immigrants, religious groups, or political opponents—populist leaders channel this fear and anger into political power (Laclau, 2005).
A central tool for populist movements is the use of fear appeal, where the fear of a perceived threat is used to influence attitudes and behaviors.
For example, rhetoric around a supposed “Islamization” of Western societies can be used to create a sense of threat to national identity and security.
This, in turn, can lead to greater acceptance of restrictive political measures and even violence against groups perceived as threats.
2. False Simplification: Religion and War
It is important to emphasize that we have long known that religion, in itself, is not the cause of war.
Rather, it is extremists from various ideological camps who incite violence and exploit religion, nationalism, or other beliefs to advance their agendas.
Karen Armstrong (2014) – In her book Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence, Armstrong argues that violence and war are rarely caused solely by religion.
She asserts that socio-economic, political, and cultural factors often play a much larger role and that religion is often used as a tool or justification rather than a root cause (Armstrong 2014).
Populist actors tend to portray certain religions or religious groups as the core of the conflict, but in reality, it is a minority of individuals who use religion as a cover to legitimize their violent capital and agenda.
Historical Parallels: Kristallnacht and Contemporary Populism
To understand the potential consequences of such rhetoric, we can draw parallels to historical events like Kristallnacht. On the night of November 9-10, 1938, the Nazis in Germany coordinated an attack on Jews, their homes, businesses, and synagogues. Nazi propaganda had long portrayed Jews as a threat to the German nation and part of a global conspiracy. This narrative justified violence in the eyes of many Germans (Friedländer, 1997).
If we apply this to a contemporary context where a radicalized movement claims that Muslims pose a similar threat, we could see similar patterns emerge. Rhetoric that targets Muslims as a danger to national security and culture, and which claims that this threat is orchestrated by “globalists,” can quickly lead to increased tensions and potentially violence. Such a scenario could result in attacks on mosques, Muslim businesses, and individuals, driving society into a dangerous spiral of hatred and violence. Assuming there is no resistance, as that would/could lead to civil war.
Populist Strategy and Unrest in the United Kingdom
Recently, the United Kingdom has been shaken by significant unrest following a horrific stabbing in Southport on July 29, 2024, where three small, completely innocent children tragically lost their lives and several others were seriously injured.
The perpetrator, a 17-year-old British citizen of Rwandan origin, was quickly arrested.
Although the perpetrator had no known ties to Islam, false information about his identity, nationality, and religion quickly spread on social media.
This disinformation, which falsely claimed that the perpetrator was Muslim and an asylum seeker, spread rapidly and led to violent riots and attacks on Muslim communities and asylum centers across the country (The Guardian, 2024; Wikipedia, 2024).
3. Attacks on Mainstream Media and Their Consequences
It is important to point out that even if the perpetrator had been both Muslim and an asylum seeker, he would still have been an individual criminal and not a representative of all immigrants and asylum seekers.
Judging an entire group based on the actions of one individual or group is not only unjust, but also ignorant and dangerous.
This type of oversimplified and generalizing rhetoric is often used by populist groups to push an agenda built on fear and suspicion.
When mainstream media is also portrayed as part of a globalist conspiracy to hide the truth, it contributes to undermining public trust in established sources of information, which creates a dangerous environment where disinformation and conspiracy theories thrive, and where critical thinking is replaced by distrust and polarization.
Research shows that attacks on mainstream media not only undermine journalistic integrity but also threaten democracy.
An informed public is a fundamental prerequisite for a functioning society (Wardle & Derakhshan, 2017).
Stopping the Epidemic of Fear
To prevent such developments, it is crucial that the public takes responsibility for their education about the mechanisms of populism and its potential consequences.
Populism’s simple answers to complex problems can be tempting, especially in times of uncertainty, but history shows us that these answers often lead to more harm than good.
It is through understanding and questioning the narratives spread by populist leaders that we can prevent fear and hatred from taking hold in our societies.
At the same time, we as individuals must understand our responsibility in the democratic process. As Lührmann and Lindberg (2019) point out, autocratization often occurs through subtle and gradual changes, making it difficult to counteract before significant damage is done.
Therefore, it is up to every citizen to actively participate in protecting democracy by resisting forces that seek to undermine it. By being vigilant, informed, and engaged in public debate, we can prevent our society from sliding towards authoritarianism.
Conclusion
In summary, populism is not just a political strategy; it is a tool that, when used irresponsibly, can destabilize societies, drive people towards violence and intolerance, and in doing so, also dismantle democracies.
By spreading knowledge and promoting critical thinking, we can counteract this destructive force and work toward a more inclusive and tolerant world.
In a time of increasing uncertainty and social tensions, it is more important than ever to be aware of the forces that seek to exploit our fears for political gain.
The allure of populism lies in its simple solutions to complex problems, but these solutions often lead to division, hatred, and violence.
People who step outside the bounds of society for various reasons and commit violent acts should, of course, be held accountable, but the judgment should always be based on the individual’s words and actions—never because of their origin, appearance, or culture.
It is also crucial that we, as individuals, take responsibility for our own education.
Being informed about topics like populism and disinformation gives us the tools to critically evaluate the messages we encounter and to avoid falling for oversimplified or misleading narratives.
By actively seeking knowledge, we can resist manipulation and make decisions based on facts and understanding.
By understanding how disinformation spreads and how it undermines trust in our institutions and each other, we can better equip ourselves to stand against the destructive forces that threaten our societies.
It is up to all of us to promote a society where critical thinking, respect for facts, and inclusion are at the forefront.
By rejecting those who seek to put “us” against “them” and instead working toward mutual understanding and unity, we can build a future that is more just, peaceful, and cohesive.
References
Armstrong, K., 2014. *Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence*. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Friedländer, S. (1997). *Nazi Germany and the Jews, 1933-1945*. New York: HarperCollins.
Laclau, E. (2005). *On Populist Reason*. London: Verso.
Lührmann, A. & Lindberg, S. I. (2019). A third wave of autocratization is here: what is new about it? *Democratization*, 26(7), 1095-1113. doi:10.1080/13510347.2019.1582029.
Mudde, C., & Kaltwasser, C. R. (2017). *Populism: A Very Short Introduction*. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Politico (2024). ‘UK far-right riots: Everything we know’. Politico. Available at: [https://www.politico.eu] (Accessed: 10 August 2024).
The Guardian (2024). ‘How attacks on mainstream media have become a global playbook for populists’. The Guardian. Available at: [https://www.theguardian.com] (Accessed: 10 August 2024).
Wardle, C., & Derakhshan, H. (2017). *Information Disorder: Toward an interdisciplinary framework for research and policymaking*. Council of Europe.
Wikipedia (2024). ‘2024 Southport stabbing’. Wikipedia. Available at: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Southport_stabbing] (Accessed: 10 August 2024).
