3d ago

A year of hate: what I learned when I went undercover with the far right

www.theguardian.com

This is a long article (excerpts from a book apparently) but it's interesting.

Basically the author, a man with Jewish heritage, makes a fake persona and joins far-right groups. He's assisted by the group Hope Not Hate.

What do you think of the far-right? One of the interesting points that is made in the article a few times is that some far-right adherents, met by the author, seem to want friendship more than anything else. At least that's the author's view.

Europe @europe.pub

atro_city @fedia.io

2d ago

A year of hate: what I learned when I went undercover with the far right

www.theguardian.com /news/2025/apr/24/undercover-far-right-hope-not-hate-harry-shukman

27 comments

Powerful piece. Incredibly sad that most of the "foot soldiers" of these organisations seem to be socially awkward and craving friendship. Terrible that they are finding friendship in these organisations. If only the government provided them with a better more fulfilling outlook that might have been avoided.
It goes to show that the reason these groups exist is that a small minority of wealthy racists are taking advantage of fragile minds.
- These wealthy racists are extremely misguided. They think in a post-capitalist society, shock collars will keep security detail loyal to them. Perhaps they've come around to think feeding them well, too. What they aren't counting these men have learned to overcome physical and emotional pain and deprivation. They have possibly learned to master their emotions, but I'm betting beneath the surface, something is seething that doesn't bode well for the wealthy racists.
- There is a great series with Stephen Graham about this very topic and it really does seem like a lot of disenfranchised men get sucked in.
  It’s called The Walk-In.
- Any guesses as to what effect pulling loads of people's PIP is going to have on this situation?
  😐
  
  I don't think that's the only answer (as in restoring PIP). At least in the UK, we've been horrible for over 50 years at creating meaningful and lasting communities where people can afford to live and work. In my opinion, we should create the conditions to make it easier for as many people as possible to be working and contributing to community life. Get some pride back by seeing small improvements in your life or local areas instead of seeing a slow lazy slide into decline and exorbitant prices and shit infrastructure. Business rent is absolutely mental in most places for example. Imagine not paying all that amount in business rent and taxes and instead hiring more staff that get paid a decent wage and offering a decent snack or sandwich with every drink you sold - oh and it would also cost a few quid instead of close to a tenner for a drink and pack of crisps. These things happen right now in Europe so it isn't beyond the UK to do something similar. Nobody can afford to make being a waiter a career choice in the UK but it is quite common on the continent. Why is that? Get more people working and feeling a sense of pride in their life instead of struggling month to month. Obviously being a a waiter and the restaurant industry is just one example.
- men will do anything to avoid therapy
  
  the therapists that wouldn't hesitate to mouth off about everything you tell them to the authorities and have you involuntarily held? it's almost like they aren't your friend
  
  We can't afford therapy.
  
  Yeah I guess that's the easy lazy answer, for sure. But the harder question is how can we get therapy to be both more appealing to men in this situation and, crucially, not needed in the first place?
  
  Have you seen the waiting lists? Much easier to throw a brick through the local mosque’s window

yeah... this is a major factor contributing to the substance abuse crisis in the modern world. it's also a big reason AA has been so successful. free friends on every corner, just gotta say that you're powerless over alcohol and that life has become unmanageable and you'll make the best friends of your life

Here's a similar article about a person doing this in the US, for comparison:
https://www.propublica.org/article/ap3-oath-keepers-militia-mole
Yes, we've known for a very long time that people join gangs due to social alienation and a need for community. It isn't new info and it doesn't change the fact that they have adopted violence and terrorism to make up for being lonely

Leaders in the far right conceal their true nature to present a more acceptable version to potential voters, donors and sometimes their own members. One prominent eugenicist who works in Westminster admitted this tactic after I’d befriended him. “Everyone puts on the mask,” he said...
Among the rank and file members of far-right organisations, I was struck by their loneliness. In discussion groups, in city pubs, at secret meetings in the countryside, many of them spoke about feeling like outcasts.
These people don't want "friendship more than anything else." If you want friendship you play a sport or join a pub trivia team -- you don't join a eugenics fanclub. The only reason you join a eugenics fanclub is if you're a fan of eugenics.
Of course, these fascists can't find friends among most people because most people find their beliefs reprehensible, so they have to constantly lie ("everyone puts on the mask") to avoid being ostracized or worse. But that is their fascist politics causing their loneliness, not their loneliness leading them to fascist politics.
- the reason they "are looking for eugenics fanclubs" are because they were ostricised when they were looking for "mildly conservative fanclubs"

During the pandemic, I was
Opinion discarded, sorry, I don't make the rules
- What do you mean by this
  
  Let's put it this way: when does Harry Shukman think the pandemic ended?

27 comments