Summary

This report constitutes the first comprehensive review of right-wing extremism (RWE) in the Nordics (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden). In it, a team of 13 leading researchers have compiled and reviewed books, dissertations, journal articles, reports, master theses and other forms of academic texts written about the topic. The result is a descriptive and analytical report of how the Nordic RWE milieu has developed from 1918 until today, with a specific focus on the pan-Nordic and transnational dimensions of the milieu. In the report, we also compile the practices used to prevent RWE in the Nordics and analyze how well they are situated to handle the threat RWE poses to society.

The report demonstrates how the transnational connections of the Nordic RWE groups have been a constant feature throughout history, both in ideas and practices. The ideas regarding pan-Nordic cooperation were put into practice in the 1930s. These connections became increasingly important during the Cold War period because internationalization provided an opening for domestically marginalized and stigmatized movements after the second World War. The Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR), the 21st century’s dominant neo-Nazi organization with a lot of cross-border activities, sets rather seamlessly into this historical continuum. History matters greatly for the contemporary RWE milieu as historical imagination is a key reference point, stirring memories from a period when the Nordic countries were not multicultural and radical nationalism was an accepted ideal.

The RWE milieu has been much affected by the digitalization of society, not least in terms of how it is organized. RWE groups and movements have traditionally followed the Führerprinzip and have been built upon an authoritarian top-down hierarchical model. Although some current groups, for example the NRM, are still organized hierarchically and managed top-down, the milieu has become more diverse. Today, we more often see loose networks and individual activists, occasionally with broad social media presence or franchise-type organizations like Soldiers of Odin. This is not to say that organizations do not matter anymore—they are still important in accumulating ideas and propagating them—but greater focus should be in the ideas they represent. It is the ideas, unlike the forms, that has travelled into the mainstream discourse.

In terms of prevention, we have identified many initiatives aiming at preventing extremism, but very few practices have a specific focus on RWE. Even though there is an obvious presence and aspirations among RWE movements to expand pan-Nordic cooperation, there are few practices focusing on preventing this tendency. In practices that are described as preventing different forms of extremism, examples, aims, and actions are predominantly focusing on militant Islamism. We have also noticed a lack of practices for preventing adults’ engagement in extremist activities, which is unfortunate since research indicate that most RWE activists are around their 30’s when entering the milieu. Prevention initiatives focusing on online extremism are under development in the Nordics. There are good reasons for the Nordic countries to cooperate on this matter, especially because online extremism communication and propaganda are not restricted by national borders and physical mobility.

Based on these findings, we suggest the following:

Integrate RWE as a special subject of the Nordic police cooperation: The Nordic police agencies should establish a specific unit of police officers who are responsible of, for example, continuously exchanging information about the pan-Nordic actions of RWE groups and actors, collaborate in cases of criminal offences, and exchange experiences of how to deal with RWE activists during, for example, demonstrations.
Develop a Nordic forum for EXIT-work and workers: We recommend the Nordic Council of Ministers, or any other relevant administrative body, to facilitate or, alternatively, provide funds for other actors to establish a forum for information and experience exchange, training, methods development, and evaluation. The importance of EXIT-work motivates an organizational approach that take the transnational dimension into consideration.
Problem-based municipal cooperation: To facilitate better information exchange, intermunicipal learning, and methods development, we suggest increased cooperation between those Nordic municipalities with a high degree of problem with RWE. Such cooperation could be facilitated through Nordic Safe Cities or other Nordic organization supporting municipalities and be given funds to ensure the stability and continuity of such a collaborative forum.
Online prevention toward adults and elderly is missing: Today, from previously being spread mainly through manifestations, concerts, and street activism, the ideology and culture of RWE is spread and consumed digitally. The few online prevention initiatives existing are mainly focusing on youth. This is an important target group, but research has indicated that the problem of online radicalization among adults and the elderly are equally, if not more, concerning. Hence, we suggest the Nordic Council of Ministers and the respective Nordic national governments to provide additional funds for public and nonpublic actors to develop new prevention models and projects for online purposes directed at adults and the elderly.
Research grants to studies of pan-Nordic RWE: We have noticed a general lack of studies on the pan-Nordic aspects of RWE. The main reason is that methodological nationalism is, to a large extent, the prevailing approach. This might be a reflection of how research grants are provided in the Nordic countries because they tend to be nationally focused, reactive, and (too) problem oriented, which can lead to a lack of historical and ethnographic depth. Here, specific research grants focusing on the pan-Nordic dimensions of extremism (i.e., also for militant Islamic and left-wing milieus) would be of great value and something that NordForsk could provide.