Hate In The Heartland

Iqra Arif

The United Kingdom which was regarded as an epitome of tolerance and multiculturalism, has now been poisoned by the venom of anti-immigrant sentiment, far-right extremism, and social chaos. Recent protests are directed toward a divided society which is a consequence of a toxic amalgam of economic hardships, political opportunism, and cultural hindrances.

Different parts of the United Kingdom have faced the current wave of protests against the anti-immigrant policies. Social inequality, economic difficulties, and cultural barriers were the main drivers of the recent protests. The protests that were aimed against the anti-immigrant policies of the UK government have given rise to the far-right ideologies that created an atmosphere of division within the UK society. The divisions based on culture, religion, and nationality point towards intolerance, an element that has a strong tendency to disrupt the social fabric of a society.

The United Kingdom, which was regarded as an epitome of tolerance and multiculturalism, has now poisoned by venom of anti-immigrant sentiment, far-right extremism, and social chaos.

Anti-immigrant sentiments involve several factors that exacerbate the situation. Among them, Brexit is on top of the list that provided a breeding ground for harsh sentiments to nourish. Moreover, the influx of refugees and immigrants from different parts of the world that laid the foundation of anti-immigrant rhetoric has been potentially misused by the far-right elements of the UK society. The Internet has been a helping hand to such elements in this regard.

Algorithmic amplification and echo chambers have played a key role in the radicalization process and encrypted apps have assisted such far-right groups in this regard. These online platforms facilitate hate speech, violence, and conspiracy theories to agitate the already existing anti-immigrant sentiments. Such sentiments have been used by far-right elements to recruit new individuals and expand their influence and membership. They manipulate people by holding the immigrants responsible for the economic chaos and declaring themselves as nationalist who will be the ultimate defenders of their nationality.

The recent developments in the UK have impacted individual life, societal life, commercial life, and cultural life. On the individual level, people are suffering through continuous distress and misery. On a societal level, the UK is observing the worst polarization and division within society. Targeted minority or immigrant communities feel unprotected and hopeless in an environment of hatred and intolerance. Such a situation has a strong potential to lead to hate crimes against the minority or immigrant groups if left unchecked. 

Brexit provided a breeding ground for harsh sentiments to nourish.

Moreover, commercial activities have been disrupted to a significant level due to these protests. The anti-immigrant policies would lead to a shortage in the labor force for which the UK is mostly rely on foreign labor. The decrease in the labor force would impact innovation and economic growth of the country. 

Furthermore, less economic activity leads to less productivity, property damage, and a rise in security spending that has an ultimate impact on the nation’s prosperity. On the cultural level, the UK may lose its multicultural diversity and harm its global standing against xenophobia and intolerance that may impact cultural exchange programs.

Politicization of anti-immigrant rhetoric presents a deadly scenario specifically with regard to recent protests in the UK. David Goodhart points out that there exists a divide between the “cosmopolitan elites” and those who have not benefited from globalization which the author symbolized as “anywhere” and “somewhere” respectively. Such narratives helped politicians to agitate the situation by politicizing the matter and declaring immigrants as the main factor behind economic hardships.

Moreover, the narratives of white supremacy and islamophobia also add fuel to the fire by affecting marginalized communities. Such narratives increase already existing fears and anxieties regarding the anti-immigrant and far-right extremism. The incidences of violence and extremism may affect civic participation drastically which would result in further division of society, and a divided society can not practice democracy and inclusivity in letter and spirit.

Algorithmic amplification and echo chambers have played a key role in the radicalization process.

To address the problem of anti-immigration and far-right sentiments, the UK needs to adopt a multifaceted approach that includes legislative and media reforms, education and awareness, media literacy, community building, and international cooperation. The problem also necessitates strong commitment, courage, and leadership to ensure the principles of equality, cultural and religious diversity, and equality.

Britain has two options to either promote inclusivity and tolerance or allow the extremist forces to weaken the binding forces of the society i.e. tolerance and multiculturalism. The willingness to overcome divisions, deal with underlying problems, and reject politics based on fear and hatred will determine the country’s destiny.

The author is a researcher at Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) and pursuing an M-phil in International relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.