As the world is thirsty for information about the details surrounding the bombings and mass shootings in Oslo, Norway, the narrative has become Behring Anders Breivik gunman and his political affiliation. Quickly, he has been labeled as "extreme right", but is that really the most beautiful description given what we know so far?
According to several outlets, Breivik identified with some of the conservative causes. But the more you dig, the more he discovers that Behring Anders Breivik is of the opinion a racist, bigot, they really can not fit in a clean box.
The Atlantic has gathered so far the dominant narrative in general Breivik: he'sa conservative Christians who did not like Muslims. This is how it is written:
Religious views: According to the BBC, Breivik has an account on Facebook and Twitter, created a couple of days ago just 17 of July, in which he identifies as a Christian and conservative. There are several reports of their views anti-Muslim. In a post in Norway in an online forum in December 2009, a user named Anders Breivik Behring says he is not a country where Muslims have lived peacefully with non-Muslims, saying instead he has had "catastrophic consequences" for non-Muslims.
Political views: the Daily Mail that police chief Sveinung Sponheim, told public broadcaster NRK that the suspect gunman comments published on the Internet "suggests that he has some traits of policies directed toward the right, and anti views -Muslim, but if it was a real motivation for the act remains to be seen. "In addition, Norwegian Verdens gang newspaper quoted a friend as saying Breivik became a right-wing extremist in his late 20s.
But it is a simplistic explanation?
Consider this: The Daily Mail Breivik opens his profile with some information that seems to shake any simple explanation of what is or what he believed:
The man responsible for the slaughter in Norway was a member of a forum that encourages Swedish Nazi attacks on government buildings.
It was also revealed that local police had extreme views on the right who hated Muslims.
According to Sweden's Anders Breivik Expo website Behring is a member of "Nordisk", which has 22,000 members and focuses on political terrorism.
[...]
[Your profile on Facebook] also listed as bodybuilding interests and Freemasonry. [Emphasis added]
That's certainly a bit of everything. And part of that information seems to hint at a possible position of the extreme left, perhaps anarchism, right? It certainly does not reflect the views of a conservative Christian, as he claimed.
It is also important to note that the terms of American politics are not easily transferable to European politics. Often the edges of Europe are the communists on the left and fascists on the right. In the U.S., "far right" has been hijacked to label conservatives who adhere strictly to the Constitution, or fight for legal immigration. (Some in the American left have even succeeded in making "far right", synonymous with the tea party). In Europe, however, the term could mean that zealous nationalist and fascist militants.
Therefore, an "extreme right" individual in Europe is not always a "far right" individual in the United States. It is important to note, the appointment will undoubtedly make the rounds in the aftermath of the attack.
Given what we know about Breivik, then, could it be that the term "far right" is a misnomer? Especially considering that when you start handling extremist groups and individuals that fall beyond the fringe, beliefs often blur - to personally select a tenant from the right and bastardize, grab an ideology of inclination the left, and then create their own belief system.
Breivik beliefs - and actions implemented - can demonstrate that he and his ideology are so diffuse as they come.
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According to several outlets, Breivik identified with some of the conservative causes. But the more you dig, the more he discovers that Behring Anders Breivik is of the opinion a racist, bigot, they really can not fit in a clean box.
The Atlantic has gathered so far the dominant narrative in general Breivik: he'sa conservative Christians who did not like Muslims. This is how it is written:
Religious views: According to the BBC, Breivik has an account on Facebook and Twitter, created a couple of days ago just 17 of July, in which he identifies as a Christian and conservative. There are several reports of their views anti-Muslim. In a post in Norway in an online forum in December 2009, a user named Anders Breivik Behring says he is not a country where Muslims have lived peacefully with non-Muslims, saying instead he has had "catastrophic consequences" for non-Muslims.
Political views: the Daily Mail that police chief Sveinung Sponheim, told public broadcaster NRK that the suspect gunman comments published on the Internet "suggests that he has some traits of policies directed toward the right, and anti views -Muslim, but if it was a real motivation for the act remains to be seen. "In addition, Norwegian Verdens gang newspaper quoted a friend as saying Breivik became a right-wing extremist in his late 20s.
But it is a simplistic explanation?
Consider this: The Daily Mail Breivik opens his profile with some information that seems to shake any simple explanation of what is or what he believed:
The man responsible for the slaughter in Norway was a member of a forum that encourages Swedish Nazi attacks on government buildings.
It was also revealed that local police had extreme views on the right who hated Muslims.
According to Sweden's Anders Breivik Expo website Behring is a member of "Nordisk", which has 22,000 members and focuses on political terrorism.
[...]
[Your profile on Facebook] also listed as bodybuilding interests and Freemasonry. [Emphasis added]
That's certainly a bit of everything. And part of that information seems to hint at a possible position of the extreme left, perhaps anarchism, right? It certainly does not reflect the views of a conservative Christian, as he claimed.
It is also important to note that the terms of American politics are not easily transferable to European politics. Often the edges of Europe are the communists on the left and fascists on the right. In the U.S., "far right" has been hijacked to label conservatives who adhere strictly to the Constitution, or fight for legal immigration. (Some in the American left have even succeeded in making "far right", synonymous with the tea party). In Europe, however, the term could mean that zealous nationalist and fascist militants.
Therefore, an "extreme right" individual in Europe is not always a "far right" individual in the United States. It is important to note, the appointment will undoubtedly make the rounds in the aftermath of the attack.
Given what we know about Breivik, then, could it be that the term "far right" is a misnomer? Especially considering that when you start handling extremist groups and individuals that fall beyond the fringe, beliefs often blur - to personally select a tenant from the right and bastardize, grab an ideology of inclination the left, and then create their own belief system.
Breivik beliefs - and actions implemented - can demonstrate that he and his ideology are so diffuse as they come.
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