The Great Replacement "Conspiracy": How the Perceived Ousting of Whites Can Evoke Violent Extremism and Islamophobia

Milan Obaidi; Jonas R. Kunst; Simon Ozer; Sasha Y. Kimel

doi:10.1177/13684302211028293

The Great Replacement "Conspiracy": How the Perceived Ousting of Whites Can Evoke Violent Extremism and Islamophobia

Milan Obaidi, Jonas R. Kunst, Simon Ozer, Sasha Y. Kimel

Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

Increased immigration and demographic changes have not only resulted in political pushback, but also in violent attacks against immigrants. Several recent terrorist attacks committed by White supremacists invoke rhetoric around a deliberate attempt to make Whites extinct and replace them with non-Western immigrants. Yet, while it is widely acknowledged among extremism researchers that this perception of orchestrated extinction or replacement has tremendous potential to lead to violent extremism, its consequences have not yet been directly examined. Using the Scandinavian context (e.g., Denmark and Norway), in two correlational studies and one experiment, we provide evidence that this perception is associated with the persecution of Muslims, violent intentions, and Islamophobia. Further, we demonstrate that these associations are mediated by symbolic threats. Conspiracy beliefs that one’s group is being replaced seem to drive hostile intergroup attitudes. We discuss the societal implications of this finding (i.e., generating fear, polarization, and hostile public opinion towards immigrants).

Original language	English
Journal	Group Processes & Intergroup Relations
Volume	25
Issue	7
Pages (from-to)	1675-1695
Number of pages	21
ISSN	1368-4302
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/13684302211028293
Publication status	Published - Oct 2022

Keywords

Islamophobia
majority-minority society
radicalization
threat perceptions
violent extremism
“Great Replacement” conspiracy
"Great Replacement" conspiracy
OUTGROUP SIZE
ATTITUDES
PREJUDICE
RADICALIZATION
ANTI-IMMIGRANT
EMOTIONAL-REACTIONS
GROUP THREAT
MUSLIM
EXPOSURE
REFUGEE CRISIS

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abstract = "Increased immigration and demographic changes have not only resulted in political pushback, but also in violent attacks against immigrants. Several recent terrorist attacks committed by White supremacists invoke rhetoric around a deliberate attempt to make Whites extinct and replace them with non-Western immigrants. Yet, while it is widely acknowledged among extremism researchers that this perception of orchestrated extinction or replacement has tremendous potential to lead to violent extremism, its consequences have not yet been directly examined. Using the Scandinavian context (e.g., Denmark and Norway), in two correlational studies and one experiment, we provide evidence that this perception is associated with the persecution of Muslims, violent intentions, and Islamophobia. Further, we demonstrate that these associations are mediated by symbolic threats. Conspiracy beliefs that one{\textquoteright}s group is being replaced seem to drive hostile intergroup attitudes. We discuss the societal implications of this finding (i.e., generating fear, polarization, and hostile public opinion towards immigrants).",

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The Great Replacement "Conspiracy": How the Perceived Ousting of Whites Can Evoke Violent Extremism and Islamophobia. / Obaidi, Milan; Kunst, Jonas R.; Ozer, Simon et al.
In: Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, Vol. 25, No. 7, 10.2022, p. 1675-1695.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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AU - Kimel, Sasha Y.

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AB - Increased immigration and demographic changes have not only resulted in political pushback, but also in violent attacks against immigrants. Several recent terrorist attacks committed by White supremacists invoke rhetoric around a deliberate attempt to make Whites extinct and replace them with non-Western immigrants. Yet, while it is widely acknowledged among extremism researchers that this perception of orchestrated extinction or replacement has tremendous potential to lead to violent extremism, its consequences have not yet been directly examined. Using the Scandinavian context (e.g., Denmark and Norway), in two correlational studies and one experiment, we provide evidence that this perception is associated with the persecution of Muslims, violent intentions, and Islamophobia. Further, we demonstrate that these associations are mediated by symbolic threats. Conspiracy beliefs that one’s group is being replaced seem to drive hostile intergroup attitudes. We discuss the societal implications of this finding (i.e., generating fear, polarization, and hostile public opinion towards immigrants).

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The Great Replacement "Conspiracy": How the Perceived Ousting of Whites Can Evoke Violent Extremism and Islamophobia

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