Earlier this week, Austria’s far-right FPÖ emerged as the big winner in the national elections. The FPÖ, founded by former Nazis in the 1950s, is known for denying climate change, opposing immigration and Islam, and refusing to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the ÖVP, the FPÖ’s main rival, pointed to another important reason for not forming a coalition with them. He stated it is “impossible to form a government with someone who adores conspiracy theories”.
Recent examples
These conspiracy theories seem to have a growing influence on politics. A prime example is presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has an entire Wikipedia page dedicated to the conspiracy theories he has supported throughout his career (not to be confused with the Wikipedia page “False or misleading statements by Donald Trump“).
Another example is the Dutch far-right party Forum for Democracy (FvD). In recent years, its leader, Thierry Baudet, has voiced skepticism about events like the September 11th attacks and even the moon landing, among other conspiracy theories. His views have become so extreme that even Geert Wilders, a fellow far-right politician and winner of the most recent national Dutch elections, quipped, “you’re already quite far on your way to the moon.”
But what is it about the far right that makes them particularly drawn to these conspiracy theories?
Conspiracy theories and social media
Wikipedia defines a conspiracy theory as is “an explanation for an event or situation that asserts the existence of a conspiracy by powerful and sinister groups, often political in motivation, when other explanations are more probable”. In recent years, these theories have gained traction, largely due to social media. This is because the algorithms used by platforms like Facebook and TikTok tend to prioritize sensational content – exactly the kind of content conspiracy theories often fall under.
These algorithms customize your feed, showing content that aligns with your interests. While this personalization isn’t inherently problematic (aside from contributing to “main character syndrome“, as discussed in this blog), it can lead people to forget that their feed is tailored to their preferences. As a result, they may assume that what they see represents the full spectrum of information, when in reality, they are only being shown one side of the story. This is why it can be so difficult to change the minds of conspiracy theorists.
The far right
In the book Understanding Conspiracy Theories, the author explains that “conspiracy theories do not bounce indiscriminately from person to person through social media as is often assumed. Instead they tend to stay concentrated within the communities who already agree with them”. This is partly due to the algorithms mentioned earlier, but also because right-wing extremists have distanced themselves from what they refer to as the “mainstream media”. Instead, they have migrated to less moderated platforms like Telegram and Parler, where the absence of strict moderation allows conspiracy theories to spread quickly – though typically only within these communities. This explains why people in the political center or left are generally less affected by conspiracy theories.
So why are far-right voters particularly vulnerable to these theories? One possible reason is the prominence of authoritarianism within far-right politics. Supporters often seek a strong leader, and a convenient way for politicians to gain that support is by pushing political conspiracy theories and positioning themselves as a heroic figure revealing the “real truth”.
Consequences and prevention
Conspiracy theories often carry harmful messages, which is why I believe their growing influence on politics is extremely problematic. The European Union shares this concern. The radicalisation of European politics lead to the creation of the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) in 2011, which in 2021 published a report titled “Conspiracy Theories and Right-Wing Extremism – Insights and Recommendations for P/CVE”. The report outlines strategies to reduce the spread of harmful conspiracy theories, emphasizing prevention and education.
The report also highlights that conspiracy theories often reflect deeper social tensions, including political, ideological, and economic issues. Those most affected by these issues tend to be drawn to right-wing parties, which often promise to address these concerns in ways that resonate with more vulnerable populations. Therefore, improving socioeconomic conditions for everyone would be the most effective way to reduce the influence of conspiracy theories on far-right politics. However, this remains a complex and ongoing challenge.
What I’ve learned about conspiracy theories is that generally, the facts are wrong, but the underlying feelings they evoke are valid. And that these feelings can indeed be linked to socio-economic conditions in which inequality plays a big role.