The Austrian Directorate for State Security and Intelligence (DSN) has issued a stark warning about the increasing tendencies of right-wing extremism in Austria. According to the DSN, the number of reported crimes motivated by right-wing extremism surged significantly.
The COVID-19 pandemic severely curtailed the activities of right-wing extremist groups, leading to the disappearance of some long-established events. However, the lockdowns also facilitated the formation of new online networks that have become increasingly active. Furthermore, relevant groups on the messaging service Telegram that support imprisoned Nazi figures are evidence of this disturbing trend, according to the DSN.
There is no single, unified right-wing extremist scene in Austria. Instead, the movement is fragmented, with groups often divided over different issues.
The DSN employs internationally accepted definitions to explain right-wing extremism, encompassing political beliefs that include support for dictatorship, ethnic nationalism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, antisemitism, chauvinism, social Darwinism, racism, and the trivialization or relativization of National Socialism.
These extremists reject democratic and pluralistic social models, including Austria’s prevailing political system, and aim to “eliminate” dissenters and state institutions.
In response to these extremist trends, the project “Extremism Prevention Goes to School” aims to counter the spread of radical ideas among young people. Funded by the Ministry of Education with approximately 2.3 million euros, the project involves 54 organizations offering free workshops for all school levels. High demand has led to the project’s continuation in the upcoming school year, as stated by Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP) in a parliamentary response.
