Melbourne, Sep 3 (The Conversation) - Over the weekend, various Australian cities witnessed rallies branded as the “March for Australia.” These events, drawing both avowed neo-Nazis and elected politicians, were held to protest against mass migration.
Anti-migrant demonstrations echoing those in Australia have also occurred recently in the UK, with notable protests in cities such as London, Bristol, and Birmingham.
Amid claims that the Australian rallies were “hijacked” by the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network (NSN), their roots firmly lie in far-right, white nationalist ideas. Central to these ideologies are “remigration” and the Great Replacement theory.
An ABC investigation prior to the rallies revealed that “remigration” was initially listed on the organisers’ website as a primary motivation. This reference was, however, later removed.
Notably, the March for Australia rallies garnered online support from high-profile international far-right figures like Alex Jones, Tommy Robinson, Jack Posobiec, and Elon Musk.
Musk retweeted a post falsely alleging that 150,000 participants attended the rallies, whereas Jones endorsed a claim suggesting half a million attendees.
For the rally organisers, endorsements from such influential personalities significantly amplify their message, transforming these gatherings from isolated events to integral parts of the global anti-immigration movement.
Elon Musk has a history of engaging with the domestic politics of foreign nations to back far-right entities. Previously, he extended his support to Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party, describing it as the nation’s “best hope.”
Recently, Musk also commented “remigration is the only way” in response to a post discussing foreigners in the UK.
Remigration advocates for the mass deportation of non-white immigrants to their perceived countries of origin. It forms a foundational belief in “identitarianism”—a European far-right movement focused on safeguarding white European identities seen as threatened by immigration, globalization, and multiculturalism.
The transnational growth of the far right is reinforced by online support for initiatives like March for Australia, highlighting the increasing global connections among extremist movements.
These groups unite over shared concerns for the preservation of “Western Civilisation,” combating mass immigration, maintaining white identity, and supporting conspiratorial views like the Great Replacement theory.
Social media has played a pivotal role in this transnational growth. In Australia, mainstream social media platforms have been essential to the evolution of anti-Islamic far-right groups such as the United Patriots Front since the 2010s.
The far right leverages virality and humor, especially through memes, to spread their ideologies. For instance, the meme Pepe the Frog has been adapted with a Ned Kelly mask for an Australian audience.
International slogans also cross borders. Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” has inspired a local variant for Australians: “Make Australia Grouse Again.”
The digital space simplifies the infiltration of extreme opinions into mainstream political dialogue. When far-right elements face “deplatforming” or removal from mainstream platforms, they often migrate to alternatives like Telegram, where a range of Australian neo-Nazi groups now reside.
It's worth noting that key supporters of March for Australia, such as Robinson and Jones, were deplatformed from Twitter before being reinstated following Musk's acquisition of the company.
Social media has also enabled neo-Nazi figures like Tom Sewell, who is shunned by Australian mainstream media, to cultivate a significant and influential profile within international far-right circles.
Under Musk’s promise to uphold “free speech” on X and Mark Zuckerberg’s shift in Meta’s content moderation strategy, mainstream social media environments are increasingly conducive to far-right movements. This trend raises concerns.
For Australia’s far right, backing from individuals like Musk and Robinson presents opportunities to bolster their mobilization efforts. It may also facilitate the transnational sharing of information, resources, and tactical support.
As the far right gains confidence, becomes more mainstream, and normalizes its activities, more public and potentially violent demonstrations are expected across Australian cities, alongside increased global online support. (The Conversation) SKS GSP
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
