A Quarter Century of Fear and Loathing

The September 11 attacks marked a turning point in global politics and European societies’ perception of themselves. The subsequent “War on Terror” provided a convenient excuse for far-right parties to mainstream Islamophobia, transforming it from a fringe ideology into a tool of electoral mobilization.

Before the attacks, these parties were largely marginalized within Europe’s multi-party systems. Their racism was often directed against Jews and other minority groups, but they struggled to gain traction with voters who saw them as relics of the past. However, in the years leading up to 9/11, far-right parties began shifting their focus towards Islam, exploiting existing prejudices and anxieties about immigration.

The collapse of the Soviet Union created a power vacuum that allowed far-right ideologies to resurface. By the late 1990s, they were developing anti-Muslim narratives. Pim Fortuyn’s book “Against the Islamisation of Our Culture” marked a significant milestone in this process, injecting a cruder and more overt strain of Islamophobia into Dutch politics.

The 9/11 attacks provided far-right parties with an opportunity to rebrand themselves as defenders of Western civilization against Islamic extremism. The Global War on Terror legitimized their rhetoric that Muslims were inherently suspect and posed a direct threat to liberal democracy. Media coverage, wars in Muslim-majority countries, and policies like the UK’s Prevent strategy – which rested on the premise that Muslim religious belief was a dormant threat – further solidified this narrative.

The Counter-Jihad Movement, an anti-Muslim network of organizations and politicians, played a crucial role in disseminating this ideology. Pamela Geller, Frank Gaffney, Daniel Pipes, and Robert Spencer became prominent figures, building careers on legitimizing the framework that Muslims were a security threat. These self-styled experts spread their ideology within policy circles at events like the OSCE’s annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

Far-right leaders from across Europe converged at counter-jihad conferences, united by their conviction that Western civilization was under attack by Islam. Over time, this anti-Muslim mobilization proved electorally successful. Far-right parties began to pressure mainstream rivals into adopting their rhetoric and eventually became coalition partners or kingmakers shaping policy from outside the cabinet.

The legacy of the War on Terror continues to shape Europe’s politics today. Anti-Muslim policies have expanded since 9/11, with far-right parties and mainstream governments passing restrictions on Muslims’ religious freedom. Bans on the full-face veil, hijab for teachers and students, and public employment are just a few examples.

European societies still live in a world where fear and loathing towards Muslims is tolerated and legitimized. The far right has successfully mainstreamed Islamophobia, transforming it into a tool of electoral mobilization. As Europe commemorates the 9/11 attacks, we must confront the reality that this event marked a turning point not only for global politics but also for European societies’ perceptions of themselves.

We risk losing the values that underpin our democratic systems: tolerance, inclusivity, and respect for diversity. The erosion of these values threatens not only Muslim communities but also the very fabric of European societies. As we reflect on this quarter century of fear and loathing, it is essential to recognize that the far right’s success is part of a broader trend.

We must examine how our societies have become complicit in perpetuating Islamophobia and work towards creating a more inclusive and tolerant environment. The question remains: what will we do next? Will we continue down this path, allowing fear and loathing to dictate our policies and actions? Or will we choose to reject this narrative and strive for a more just and equitable society?