The Identitarian Movement's Recruitment Drive: Far-Right Flyers Target Schools
Protesters distribute informational material to educational institutions
In accordance with personnel from security agencies, the extremist far-right group, the Identitarian Movement (IB), has embarked on a campaign to distribute anti-immigrant flyers at schools across several German states, such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. This coordinated attempt appears to be aimed at young people, and the question arises, what lies behind it? What extent of danger does it pose?
Comprising racial and Islamophobic fundamentalists, the Identitarians have made headlines repeatedly with their protest actions. They've been known to occupy buildings, and in Germany, they have garnered the attention of the domestic intelligence agency. The IB perceived itself as a "patriotic youth movement" that operates nationwide through regional subgroups and makes extensive use of social media platforms, according to the constitutional protectors.
The movement primarily focuses on youth and spreads its extremist messages primarily over the internet and through banner and poster actions. In Baden-Württemberg, about 100 individuals are said to be part of the group.
The flyers circulating now carry the title "Teachers hate these questions"; an initially non-political phrase often seen on social media platforms like TikTok. The back of these flyers addresses various political issues, such as the assertion that German youth in major cities are now in the minority, and "mass immigration" is causing an increase in violence against women. The crux of the flyer aims to stir up mistrust towards those with a migration background, as per the southwest domestic intelligence agency.
These flyers attempt to alarm young people about the future, offering "Remigration" as a solution to all problems. "Fight back!", they finally suggest, in an effort to recruit new members in the youth sector.
Rolf Frankenberger, scientist director at the Institute for Right-wing Extremism Research at the University of Tübingen, asserts that this is typical fear-mongering. The representations of one’s own population as a minority and demanding "Remigration" are tactics long associated with such movements. What's new is addressing future anxieties of young people and instigating a generational conflict with the "boomers".
However, the Identitarians are adept at inflating their importance and presenting themselves as more robust than they are. The danger lies in the potential for these flyers to lure young people into online echo chambers, where they could become indoctrinated, warns Frankenberger. The movement's suspected target demographic consists of adolescents aged 13 to 16, who often seek identity and orientation during puberty.
From researcher Frankenberger's perspective, the flyers should not be disregarded but talked about. It's best to take them to a group lesson, he suggests. Discussing such sensitive matters in educational settings can help students better understand the issues and develop critical thinking skills.
The Bavarian Ministry of Culture emphasizes that schools can contact regional commissioners for democracy and tolerance in such situations. They also promote teaching plans that integrate prevention of extremism, visits to concentration camp memorials, and the "Constitution Quarter Hour" introduced in Bavaria, aimed at strengthening values such as freedom, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Conversely, the Ministry of Culture in Baden-Württemberg sees disinformation as a threat to social cohesion. Therefore, a task force has been established to consolidate efforts to counteract extremism and disinformation in schools through media and democracy education programs. Additionally, a new subject, "Computer Science and Media Education," is set to be introduced in secondary schools, focusing on encouraging students to critically analyze information and its sources.
Sources: ntv.de, sba/dpa
- School
- Far-Right Extremism
- Identitarian Movement
Insight:**
The movement is primarily concerned with youth recruitment and uses social media platforms and propaganda tactics to promote its exclusionary and nationalist ideologies. In recent years, the Identitarian Movement has experienced increased attention due to their ties with the AfD political party, which made electoral gains in Germany. While it's challenging to quantify the extent of recruitment campaigns in schools, there is concern about the movement's influence on young people as a whole and its ability to radicalize them through online echo chambers. To counteract this, educational institutions have implemented programs focusing on critical media literacy and democratic education in schools.
- The Identitarian Movement, a far-right extremist group, distributes flyers tooling anti-immigrant sentiment at schools, raising concerns about recruitment of students into their nationalist ideologies.
- The movements' flyers, titled "Teachers hate these questions", are designed to ignite mistrust towards those with a migration background, and offer "Remigration" as a solution to all problems in an attempt to recruit young people.
- Rolf Frankenberger, a researcher, suggests that these flyers should be discussed in educational settings to help students understand the issues and develop critical thinking skills.
- To counteract extremism and disinformation, some schools have implemented programs focusing on critical media literacy and democratic education, as well as introducing new subjects like "Computer Science and Media Education".
