Analysis
Economy & Tech
Ukraine’s Reconstruction: A Second ‘Big Bang’ for European Business?
5 November 2024
The economic and social impact of COVID-19 creates space for alienating wider demographics that far-right movements may target for recruitment. Yet, their strategy and narratives may depend on whether they are in or out of power.
Like in other parts of Europe, the COVID-19 pandemic has become central to attempts of far-right groups to become more visible in Central Europe. Extremist actors have a long history of expanding their influence in crises.
The way the far-right has capitalised on the current crisis is by pushing conspiracy theories, often targeting different ethnic and minority groups. Forms of activism further include anti-mask and anti-lockdown events.
In the next stage of the crisis, it will matter whether the voices of the far-right are present in the governments of Central Europe or not. Three topics related to COVID-19 may fuel right-wing rhetoric in the region in 2021: vaccines, migration, and economy. Whether right-wing parties and movements can successfully adopt and diffuse narratives depends on whether they are in or out of power.