Utøya Is a Reminder of the Enduring Threat of Fascism
Ten years ago today, a far-right terrorist killed 77 people in Norway. The deputy leader of the country's Labour Youth, targeted in the violence, writes about the far-right's growing threat – and our duty to fight it.
A memorial to the victims of the Utøya terrorist attacks in 2011. (Credit: PA / Getty)
Six short days into 2021, we were once again reminded of the dangers posed to democratic principles if the far-right gets a foothold within our communities. In an attempt to overturn the results of the presidential elections, rioters stormed the United States Capitol and the U.S. Congress was attacked.
While watching live images of the attack, commentators and politicians claimed the fascist attempts to overturn a democratically-elected president could not be predicted. But how can the capabilities of the far-right still come as a surprise?
In Norway, we continue to be reminded of what can happen if far-right extremism goes unchecked. This January, weeks after the attack in the US, we commemorated the murder of Benjamin Hermansen, a Norwegian-Ghanaian boy killed by Neo-Nazis in January 2001. Just 20 years ago, he was killed because of the colour of his skin.
Today and this week, we will commemorate the 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway. Ten years ago, 77 people were killed in a far-right extremist terrorist attack. The terrorist killed 8 people with a car bomb at the executive government quarter in Oslo. Less than two hours later, he attacked the summer camp of the Norwegian Labour Youth, killing 69 people and injuring many more.
They were killed in an attack on our democracy and our values. It was a terrorist attack motivated by far-right ideas and conspiracy theories that persist to this day.
In recent times, the United Kingdom has also seen the consequences of far-right extremism. The murder of Jo Cox was an act of hatred. Much like the victims in 2011, Jo Cox was murdered for what she believed in. Much like the attacks in 2011, the murder of Jo Cox was also an attack on democracy motivated by hateful, far-right ideas.
In today’s society, it should be superfluous to state that far-right radicalism and far-right extremist ideas could be deadly. The scars of fascist and Nazi actions in Europe remains visible.
In Our Past and Present
In walking distance from my childhood home lies Falstadsenteret. Here, during the Second World War, the Nazis executed more than 200 prisoners of war and buried them in mass graves. In the cemetery of my childhood town lies 15 year old Emil Okkenhaug. He was shot and murdered during the 2011 terrorist attack.
The consequences of far-right conspiracy theories, hateful rhetoric, speech and actions should be common knowledge. Yet, it seems as though our collective memory is lacking, even in regard to the darkest parts of our history.
Let us consider the far-right as a slowly moving train. At its first stop, we find liberal right-wing populists who respect democratic principles, and who prompt comic relief rather than feelings of animosity. Slowly, but steadily, the train moves on. It departs from these seemingly harmless ideas, and the common democratic principles are left behind.
Soon, we reach a landscape where the magnitude of the far-right becomes apparent. The stops include a far-right radical and alternative media, and charismatic far-right politicians operating in the grey areas of our democratic rules.
Towards the end of the train’s journey, we find the extreme far-right, where the very same violent, anti-democratic forces that had far-reaching consequences during the 1930s and 1940s persist to this day.
The threats posed by these groups – be it Franco, Hitler and Mussolini in the 20th century or the terrorists and anti-democratic forces of the 21st century – is glaring to the extent where the only excuse one has when shocked by their capabilities is if one’s eyes are closed to our history as well as our present.
A Warning and a Reminder
Even before assuming the presidency, Donald Trump and his closest allies positioned themselves well into the journey to the far-right. Years of hateful rhetoric and normalisation of radicalism have driven both loyal supporters and considerable parts of the Republican Party further into darkness.
Many hoped and believed the blatant attempt to overturn the democratic outcome in January would serve as a turning point; that the Republicans would turn their backs on Trump and the rhetoric and actions of his allies. This was not the case. The overwhelming majority of Republican senators and politicians let Trump walk away without any notable personal consequences.
This development ought to serve as a warning in Europe as well. It is naïve to believe the same forces cannot gain a foothold here. In fact, they already have.
The same extreme ideas have devastated our communities before through fascism and Nazism in the 20th century. They can still be found today through the far-right terrorists of the 21st century. They exist in our neighbourhoods, at work, in family gatherings, and on social media.
Can we claim, truthfully, that we have done enough to ensure acts of terror from the far-right – like the ones in 2011 in Norway and 2016 in Birstall, West Yorkshire – will never happen again? Have we done enough to prevent another deadly rise of far-right extremism?
Getting rid of these dangerous ideas is no easy task. That makes the efforts all the more important. Our job now is to understand how to combat those ideas. We know the last stop on the far-right’s train journey. We must ensure the train never gets there.