JAMES
ROSS/AAP
‘It’s almost like grooming’: how anti-vaxxers,
conspiracy theorists, and the far-right came together over COVID
September
21, 2021 7.48am BST
Author
Josh Roose
Senior
Research Fellow, Deakin University
Some of
those gathered held a banner reading ‘freedom’, while others sang the national
anthem and chanted ‘f*** the jab’.
Some
attacked union offices, drawing criticism from officials such as ACTU chief
Sally McManus, who described the protests as being orchestrated “by violent
right-wing extremists and anti-vaccination activists.”
These
images may shock some but for researchers like me — who research far-right
nationalist and conspiracy movements, and explore the online spaces where these
people organise — these scenes came as no real surprise.
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Far right
nationalists, anti-vaxxers, libertarians and conspiracy theorists have come
together over COVID, and capitalised on the anger and uncertainty simmering in
some sections of the community.
They appear
to have found fertile ground particularly among men who feel alienated, fearful
about their employment and who spend a lot of time at home scrolling social
media and encrypted messaging apps.
The latest in a continuum
It’s
important to see what’s occurring with these protests as part of a continuum
rather than a series of unrelated incidents. This week’s protests are related
to anti-lockdown protests held in 2020, and earlier this year.
It was at
first limited to the conspiracy theorist and anti-vaxxer crowd. Some were just
upset by lockdowns but most of the planning conversation online was being led
by anti-vaxxers and QAnon activists.
These
movements thrive on anxiety, anger, a sense of alienation, a distrust in
government and institutions. It’s really no coincidence this is occurring most
vigorously in Melbourne given what this city has been through with lockdowns.
It has
really built momentum over the last year and, more recently, been infiltrated
by far right groups.
Read more:
Far-right groups have used COVID to expand their footprint in Australia. Here
are the ones you need to know about
The far right are capable recruiters
If you go
back two years ago, anti-vaxxers were a tiny minority. They have grown
significantly in size and influence online.
I have
observed in my research the far right consciously appropriating the language of
anti-vaxxers, of the conspiracy movements, seeking to exploit their anger and
distrust.
I spend a
lot of time on the encrypted messaging groups used by these groups and in the
online spaces where they organise. I have seen the same names popping up, and
growing use of hard right or far right national socialist iconography.
It is
almost like grooming. The far right are a lot more capable of recruitment than
we give them credit for. They have found an audience who are angry, frustrated
and looking for someone to blame.
This is
particularly the case among young men who are increasingly attracted to right
wing nationalism and make up the majority of protesters. Victoria Police
Commissioner Shane Patton has said the majority of protesters at the Saturday
protest were men aged 25-40, who came with violent intent.
Many of
these groups share similar ideas: that there is a cabal of politicians and
elites who are oppressing you. That freedom is at risk, that one must stand up
for liberty, that there is a wealthy and unelected ruling class controlling
you.
COVID —
with all the fear, uncertainty, lockdowns, policing and employment impacts it
brings — has helped bring these groups together.
Victoria
police earlier this year warned a parliamentary inquiry into extremism that:
online
commentary on COVID-19 has provided a recruiting tool for right-wing extremist
groups, linking those interested in alternative wellness, anti-vaccination and
anti-authority conspiracy theories with white supremacist ideologies.
The far
right has really sought to mobilise frustrated people and push them more toward
right-wing narratives, particularly white nationalist narratives.
There is a
strong historical animosity toward trade unions (as the vanguard of the
political left) by the far right. It would be disingenuous to view the far
right as unintelligent thugs. They are learned in the history of national
socialism and fascism and the preconditions for its rise.
So you see
the far right working very hard to undermine trade unions and the way they
represent the organised working class. There is an attempt to undermine trust
in trade unions and paint them as traitors and sell-outs who are in bed with
the government.
Among the
protesters there was a really self conscious effort to represent themselves as
themselves as tradies and workers. Some observed protest organisers encouraging
people to wear hi-vis clothing to these rallies.
It’s
important to note the construction industry and trade union movement in general
are incredibly diverse, and there will be different and competing views around
vaccines, masks and lockdowns.
Some of
these protesters actually are tradies, some may not be. Some are union members,
others are not. But the broader point is there is a group of people who are
incredibly angry about the situation they find themselves in, and resentment is
proving fertile terrain for organised groups.
Where to from here?
This is not
an easy knot to unpick, but there are three main approaches I think would
really help.
The first
is we really need to get people back to work. That is critical. People’s self
esteem and livelihood is tied up in work and the ability to put food on the
table, in staying busy and socially connected (which is often via work).
By ensuring
safe, secure employment for people, you really take away one of the main
drivers of anger, resentment (and too much time to scroll around social media)
that is helping push people toward extremism.
The second
is politicians need to think hard and fast about what they can do to help
rebuild trust in them, in government and in our institutions. Politicians can’t
hide behind press conferences and press releases to get their message out. They
need to get out and build trust, face-to-face with the community. Of course,
that has been constrained by lockdown but this work is urgent and important.
Politicians need to lead and create relationships with the community again.
The third
thing is we as a society need to think carefully about social media, and
perhaps about regulation. We need a long-term approach to media literacy
training, to teach media literacy in schools and to educate people about social
media echo chambers.
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