Far-Right Propaganda: Identitarian Movement Targets Youth With School Flyers
Workers distributing pamphlets about identities to educational institutions
Beware, the far-right is infiltrating schools with recruitment flyers in federal states such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The questionable Identitarian Movement (IB) is at the center of it all, stirring up fear and spreading divisive messages, particularly targeting the youth.
Who are these Identitarians? A far-right movement with racist and Islamophobic positions, they regularly cause a stir with protest actions. These have ranged from building occupations to unfurling banners at famous landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate. In Germany, the Group falls under the watchful eyes of the domestic intelligence agency. They label themselves as a "patriotic youth movement," being active nationwide with regional subgroups and intensively using social media.
Politics play a significant role in the Ideology of the Identitarians. They believe that ethnic origin should be the only criterion for belonging to the German people. Each people should live exclusively on its own territory and thus preserve its identity. As expected, they advocate for the reversal of migration movements, under the slogan "Remigration."
The flyers currently circulating bear the title "Teachers hate these questions" - a catchy phrase that also shows up on social media platforms like TikTok. On the back, the flyers address various politically charged issues, spreading the notion that German youth have become a minority due to "mass immigration" and that it leads to an increase in violence against women. The flyers instill mistrust against people with migration backgrounds and promote fear.
To lure young people into their extremist networks, the Identitarians offer "Remigration" as a solution to all problems. They encourage young people to "Fight back!" and "Join the Identitarian Movement." The main goal of this campaign is to recruit new members in the youth sector.
Dr. Rolf Frankenberger, Scientific Director of the Institute for Right-wing Extremism Research at the University of Tübingen, highlighted that these tactics are typical fear-mongering. While the Identitarians over-inflate their importance, the real danger lies in their ability to attract vulnerable young people into their extremist ideologies. The group is believed to focus its efforts on teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16, who are in the midst of puberty and seeking answers to life's big questions.
Although it might seem tempting to disregard the flyers, Dr. Frankenberger advises taking them to a group discussion. Thorough discussion and understanding of these materials can help counteract the Identitarian Movement's divisive propaganda in schools.
Schools, particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, must remain vigilant against extremist incidents. Young people can seek guidance from regional commissioners for democracy and tolerance in cases of concern. Awareness and education play essential roles in prevention, as well as strengthening values such as freedom, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Initiatives like the "Constitution Quarter Hour" introduced in Bavaria and the upcoming Computer Science and Media Education subject in Baden-Württemberg schools promote critical thinking and counteract the spread of disinformation. Bundling offers and addressing media and democracy education in schools can help safeguard social cohesion against emerging threats.
Sources: ntv.de, sba/dpa
- School
- Right-wing extremism
- Identitarian Movement
Enrichment Insights:- The Identitarian Movement and related groups employ various methods to recruit young people, including digital communication, physically engaging activities, and ideological indoctrination.- Identitarians seek to establish a lasting youth culture that promotes far-right nationalism, indoctrinating children from a young age and widening their political base.- The Identitarian Movement's recruits often engage in extremist behaviors, threatening the safety and cohesion of schools and communities.- The covert methods used for recruitment make it difficult for authorities and educators to monitor and counteract far-right activities in schools.
- The Identitarian Movement's tactics in schools, such as propaganda through flyers and social media, are designed to indoctrinate youth, enriching their political base with far-right nationalism.
- Vulnerable young people, especially those between the ages of 13 and 16, are often targeted by the Identitarian Movement for recruitment, putting schools and communities at risk.
- To counteract the Identitarian Movement's divisive propaganda, education-and-self-development programs that foster critical thinking, such as the "Constitution Quarter Hour" and Computer Science and Media Education, are essential for safeguarding social cohesion and preventing further infiltration of extreme ideologies.
