Unveiling the Far Right's Immigration Strategy: Manipulation and Fear-Mongering

Far-Right Myth vs. Reality

Far-right parties are often perceived as advocates for "ordinary people" in immigrant-dense areas, addressing their concerns and fears.

However, a recent study reveals a sinister truth: far-right parties aren't simply responding to existing anti-immigrant sentiment; they are actively creating it.

Elites vs. the People

The study, conducted by researchers at Bocconi University and the ETH Zurich, found that far-right politicians in Switzerland intentionally focused their campaigns in immigrant-heavy border towns, deploying fear-mongering slogans and caricatures.

Instead of citizens expressing organic complaints about immigration, the researchers suggest that they are being incited and scapegoated by political entrepreneurs on the far right.

Border Effects

The study examined the period after 2000, when Switzerland opened its borders to neighboring EU countries. Immigration in Ticino rose by 14%, while support for the far right increased by an astonishing 32%.

Yet, upon closer inspection, the researchers found no evidence to support the claim that economic, cultural, or security concerns were driving anti-immigrant sentiment.

Political Manipulation

The study's conclusion is unequivocal: far-right politicians are orchestrating the rise of anti-immigration rhetoric, using it to manipulate persuadable voters in volatile situations.

These elites, despite claiming to speak for the "people," are themselves part of the political hierarchy.

Parsing Cultural and Economic Impacts

In Ticino, the influx of immigrants from neighboring Italy posed minimal cultural disruption. They were largely well-educated, assimilated into society, and shared similar values.

Economically, the study found that immigration had a positive impact on Ticino, stimulating growth, employment, and wages.

Far-Right Targeting

The researchers discovered that far-right politicians strategically targeted border regions with their hostile rhetoric, exploiting the potential for negative perceptions of immigrants.

In contrast, control areas with similar immigration rates but no far-right campaigns saw no increase in anti-immigrant sentiment.

Legislating Bias

Politicians from border areas in Ticino's parliament were more likely to propose anti-immigrant legislation than their counterparts from non-border areas.

This pattern suggests that political elites on the far right use anti-immigrant messaging as a tool to sway public opinion.

Conclusion

This study emphasizes the profound role that political elites play in shaping the fate of democratic societies.

It challenges the notion that far-right parties merely represent the will of the people, illustrating instead their manipulation and fear-mongering tactics.

Unless centrist politicians recognize this reality and break away from the manipulative strategies of their far-right rivals, the future of our democracies remains vulnerable.