'You're going to see a lot more make Ireland great again posts': US influence on far-right slogans
James Cox
The recent move from X, formerly Twitter, which shows the origin of posts once again highlighted American influence on far-right activists in Ireland, and this is a continuing trend according to a US group that monitors far-right groups and hate speech.
The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (Gpahe) monitors far-right and extremist groups across the globe.
In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Wendy Via, Gpahe co-founder and president, said English-speaking countries, particularly Ireland and the UK, are vulnerable to the spread of hate speech and extremism from the US.
"It's not just Ireland, it is across the globe, but particularly in English speaking countries it is easier for it to be picked up and with the way the algorithms work.
"You're going to see a lot more 'make Ireland great again' posts.
"'Make Ireland great again', 'Irish lives matter', things like that in addition to terms like re-migration, on and on this is spreading like wildfire."
I think Trump has been a global influence, particularly on xenophobia.
Ms Via added: "Donald Trump is a figure known worldwide, probably the most famous person in the world, and for those who endorse his extremist views, the idea that the president of the United States is saying it, it gives others encouragement to add to it and make it worse. I think Trump has been a global influence, particularly on xenophobia.
"English is obviously not the world's most spoken language, but it helps these slogans spread rapidly online. The US and UK are two countries who have always been leaders, but a lot of this extremist rhetoric is spreading from there now."
Echoing refugee rights groups such as the Irish Refugee Council and the Hope and Courage Collective, Ms Via said the Irish Government's new immigration policy, which includes making those in receipt of social welfare payments ineligible for citizenship, is a victory for far-right groups.
"Asylum, refugee status, Ireland has always been known as a welcoming country. These policies are about punishment, not migration policy. Rabid anti-immigration sentiment can move moderate parties to the right.
"Once you go down this path of taking away people's rights, or the dehumanisation of people, it is hard to turn this around.
"When people are experiencing economic hardship, or the economy is leaving people with a sense of fear or not being stable, then you look for people to blame. Politicians blame the opposition, but when they are trying to gain ground they will blame communities, this is not new it's text book.
"Our first Ireland report, back in 2020, warned you cannot pretend or put your head in the sand when it comes to far-right movements. That ranges from when they are street gangs to far-right political movements.
"I think a huge majority of this disinformation is coming from America. That isn't to say there are not foreign figures who take the American stuff and amplify it."
She was more complimentary of Government's approach to dealing with the huge amount of tricolours being erected by far-right groups.
Rather than removing them, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan is said to favour campains highlighting what the tricolour represents, particularly inclusiveness.
Ms Via said this type of approach was better as removing the flags could lead to more conflict.
"If a flag has traditionally been used to represent patriotism and pride in your nation, that's different to a nationalist approach.
"I'm talking about, you're Irish and proud to be Irish, the usual patriotism.
"I do think it's better to reinforce through education what it actually means and how one can love your country, but accept that its values are about people and fairness. That's what you want to present rather than exclusion and hatred.
"Anything you can do in this type of environment to remind everyone we are talking about people is very important. It's also important not to give up the flag or other Irish national symbols and stop them being taken over.
"Worldwide the terms 'values' and 'family' have been taken over by the far-right, anti-LGBTQ, anti-migrant, anti-everything."
