European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Stalinism and Nazism. The banality of hatred, once again
Towards the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the European Union decreed that every 23 August should be set aside to commemorate the victims of totalitarian regimes. Less than ten years later, political trends in the region shifted towards a rise in the influence of right-wing nationalist parties in the European Parliament. It would appear that the resolution to commemorate the victims remained merely a matter of rhetoric. It failed to serve as a warning against the trends currently unfolding within democratic institutions, which are weakened on a daily basis when divisive rhetoric is voiced within them, further polarising society.
The truth is that there is a consistent historical thread that makes institutions vulnerable to the emergence of such regimes, or allows such parties to gain political ground. In the 20th century, the economic crisis that shook the world during the Great Depression, as well as the hyperinflation of the Weimar Republic in Germany, took root in society as a breeding ground for feelings of helplessness and vulnerability in the face of a lack of state protection.
This sentiment led to the emergence of charismatic leaders positioning themselves as saviours. However, the real danger arose from the need to identify an internal enemy – a scapegoat upon whom to pin the blame for all unrest. Political discourse began to take on a divisive tone, singling out Jewish people, Roma, or any ethnic group that did not conform to the new norms defining society. This type of discourse started out as a marginal phenomenon until, in the absence of resistance, it gradually became the prevailing view. Hatred became so commonplace that it became the norm.
Today, history has decided to repeat itself. Both the 2015 migration crisis and the 2020 pandemic served as turning points. Both acted as catalysts for discontent within European societies, increasing mistrust of national governments and facilitating the portrayal of the ‘immigrant’ as a public enemy.
It was against this backdrop that the 2024 European Parliament elections took place. These resulted in more than 200 MEPs from right-wing political parties, compared with fewer than 150 in 2019. This rhetoric is echoed at national level, with Alternative for Germany (AfD) now the country’s second-largest political force. In France, the National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, was the most voted-for political force in the state.
These groups bring with them nationalist rhetoric, promoting an ‘ideal’ type of ‘European’ that is beginning to be replicated in many areas of society – it is not confined to parliaments alone. From xenophobic jokes to sensationalist press reports, a political consensus is gradually taking shape – a sense of belonging – which marginalises those who cannot fit in, whether because of their physical features, their accent or their ethnicity.
In this regard, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has recently published a report warning of the rise in hate speech in the region. Not only is this type of discourse on the rise, but it is also beginning to be normalised in the public sphere. It is no longer a phenomenon confined to certain political groups, but has come to permeate everyday life in society. The common understanding and sense of belonging within European societies are being shaped and adapted so as to avoid becoming trapped by characteristics that are marked as ‘different’ from within.
The report indicates that hate speech is not uniform; rather, it is directed at multiple minority groups and varies in tone depending on its target. Ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation and gender identity are the most common targets. Furthermore, it identifies foreigners, the LGBTI community, Roma and Muslims as the main victims of political hate speech, which is based on stereotypes and disinformation.
Moreover, those who speak out against this type of speech face an even more intense wave of hatred, thereby creating a deterrent effect. In such situations, the ever-growing trend of hate speech meets with no resistance.
The history of totalitarianism in the 20th century demonstrates that hatred is not a phenomenon that erupts spontaneously. Rather, it is a sentiment that takes root gradually, fuelled by figures holding positions in institutions that are supposed to protect citizens, and reinforced by leaders who seek at all costs to appeal to a sense of belonging. Little by little, hatred grows and becomes more commonplace and part of everyday life through jokes, fake news, deepfakes, media outlets joining the campaign, and politicians who fail to verify their sources. All of this ultimately leads to minorities being attacked by entire societies, and those who try to speak out are targeted even more aggressively.
Ana Nerea Saad Moisés, FIBGAR’s collaborator
