Global crises and the digital age are reflected in the changing dynamics of extremism. Tarja Mankkinen, Development Manager at Finland’s Ministry of the Interior, explains how the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the crisis in Gaza have influenced radicalisation—and what it all means for Europe’s security.
Global crises and the digital age are reflected in the changing dynamics of extremism. Tarja Mankkinen, Development Manager at Finland’s Ministry of the Interior, explains how the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the crisis in Gaza have influenced radicalisation—and what it all means for Europe’s security.
At the start of the 2000s, the Madrid and London bombings altered perceptions of terrorism in Europe. “We realised that terrorism doesn’t come from outside but grows within our own societies,” says Mankkinen.
“This led to terrorism being addressed more as an issue of internal security, rather than external relations. From there began the work to develop ways to prevent violent radicalisation.”
Mankkinen is a seasoned security expert who has worked at Finland’s Ministry of the Interior since the late 1990s and has played a key role in EU cooperation. She has also been centrally involved in designing both national and EU-level strategies to prevent radicalisation.
Finland drafted its first national action plan to prevent violent radicalisation in 2011.
“Our approach has been broad and inclusive, something that has received international recognition,” Mankkinen notes. She was invited to the European Commission to set up an EU-level initiative, under whose leadership the EU Knowledge Hub for Preventing Radicalization, was created to replace the former Radicalization Awareness Network (RAN).
Preventive work is critical in tackling terrorism, given that its objective is to sow chaos, insecurity, and fear.
“If you only respond once the situation has already ‘gone south’, you’re already too late. Even if an attack is foiled, the fear has already spread.”
The Covid-19 pandemic significantly changed the dynamics of radicalisation.
“People spent more time online, creating ideal conditions for the spread of conspiracy theories, misinformation, and disinformation,” Mankkinen explains. Extremist movements took advantage of this environment to recruit new supporters and disseminate their ideologies.
On top of this came the challenges brought by artificial intelligence: generated texts, voices, and images that can be extremely difficult to distinguish from genuine content.
“In addition, automated translations and content production make it easier for extremist ideas to spread to even small language areas,” she remarks.
“People are often defenceless against this deluge of disinformation, and basic media literacy alone is no longer sufficient.”
Beyond mere critique, Mankkinen also emphasises the importance of resistance—having the skill to respond to all information encountered, and to discern reliable content and institutions from untrustworthy, malicious ones.
“Just because there’s a picture of something on the internet doesn’t mean it’s real.”
“People spent more time online, creating ideal conditions for the spread of conspiracy theories, misinformation, and disinformation,” Mankkinen reiterates. Extremist movements exploited the situation to recruit new followers and spread their ideologies.
The war in Ukraine and the Gaza crisis have further deepened existing tensions and created new pathways for radicalisation. “Geopolitical crises like the war in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza serve as fuel for radical movements. They’re able to exploit these conflicts to reinforce their own narratives,” says Mankkinen.
Ideologies have become hybridised, making ever more effective use of crises as well as people’s everyday adversities, with the goal of increasing distrust of society and its institutions.
“For instance, violent far-right and jihadist groups can use these events to justify their activities and recruit new members,” she continues.
“And in the online environment, the lines between internal and external security have become even more blurred.”
THE DIVERSITY OF EXTREMISM IN CONTEMPORARY EUROPE
“Violent far-right extremism is a significant threat in many European countries, including the Nordic nations, Germany, and France,” Mankkinen observes. These groups capitalise on nationalist sentiments and anti-immigration rhetoric to advance their agenda. “They often maintain connections to international networks, making their activities all the more difficult to control.”
Jihadist Terrorism
“Even though ISIS has lost territorial power, jihadist terrorism remains a threat in Europe, particularly in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands,” Mankkinen explains. Radicalisation still often takes place online, with lone actors potentially drawing inspiration from distant conflicts.
New Hybrid Ideologies
“The Covid-19 pandemic spawned new movements we refer to as ‘anti-government, anti-system, anti-institutional’ ideologies,” says Mankkinen. These groups are primarily anti-democratic and heavily rooted in conspiracy theories. “They exploit people’s distrust in institutions and aim to undermine the foundations of society.”
Violent Far-Left and Anarchist Groups
“Especially in Southern Europe, violent far-left and anarchist groups are still active,” Mankkinen notes. Although their operations are frequently local, they also have ties to international networks.
Because extremist networks operate across borders, a national approach alone is inadequate.
“Criminal and extremist groups are always on the lookout for loopholes in different countries’ legislation and oversight. We can’t pretend that in Finland we’re protected from the rest of the world by some impenetrable barrier,” Mankkinen emphasises.
She also highlights foreign networks and state actors, such as US-based far-right groups and Russia. “Russia has been carrying out influence operations for a long time, finding suitable pathways in each country to gain a foothold in local politics.”
“We still face challenges with so-called ‘legal but harmful’ content, which can be highly detrimental even if it isn’t strictly illegal.”
“And these networks definitely find domestic radicals to support their agenda; not all problems come to us exclusively from abroad,” Mankkinen reminds us.
Regarding online content, the European Union has sought to step up cooperation through initiatives such as the EU Internet Forum.
“Since 2015, we’ve been assisting tech companies in taking down harmful content and implementing legislation,” says Mankkinen. “But we still have difficulties dealing with ‘legal but harmful’ content, which affects people negatively even if it isn’t prohibited by law.”
She also calls for greater clarity on the limits of freedom of speech. “Freedom of expression is an important value, but it comes with responsibilities.”
“If something isn’t permitted offline, it shouldn’t be allowed online either,” she points out.
Although security threats are widely publicised, Mankkinen underscores the significance of hope in building societal resilience. “Resilience isn’t just preparing for the worst—it’s also about strengthening the resources of individuals and communities,” she says.
“We need to support people so that they have trust and confidence in the future. This is especially vital for young people, some of whom feel marginalised and lack prospects,” Mankkinen continues. She refers to the socio-economic polarisation in which many are doing better, but there’s also a segment of youth who are faring worse than ever, losing faith in society.
“When people believe in the future and find society to be just, they’re less prone to radicalisation. Consequently, we become far stronger as a society.”
“When people believe in the future and find society to be just, they’re less prone to radicalisation. Consequently, we become far stronger as a society.”
She notes that, despite the amount of violence decreasing over the long term, media narratives often emphasise threats and fear. “We should focus more on positive developments and on how we can work together to create a safer and more sustainable society,” Mankkinen suggests.
“And we really shouldn’t be feeding despair and fear over every little thing—we do have some genuinely big issues to address.”
This article series has been produced with European information support from the Prime Minister’s Office for the project “Europe’s Internal Security in the Wake of the War in Ukraine.”
IN BRIEF:
Katso myös:
