ABSTRACT
This chapter details the anti-Islamic expansion of the far right between 2000 and 2017, and the backgrounds of its key figures in six countries. Beginning with the online formation of the counter-jihadi community and ending with PEGIDA, this chapter provides an overview of the four major waves of anti-Islamic expansion across Europe and the West. It argues that each wave was propelled by moral shocks in the form of jihadist terror attacks and related events. The chapter goes on to compare the personal biographies of 30 leaders, spokespersons, and ideologies from these countries. Among these figureheads, political left-wing backgrounds are more common than far-right or extreme right backgrounds. Women are in a clear minority, but still play an important role. Some are self-professed feminists and outspoken about their LGBT identity, and most have a middle-class background. The left-wing legacies of key personnel are a key part of the puzzle of understanding why nominally left-wing, progressive, and liberal ideals make up a core part of the anti-Islamic movement’s rhetoric and worldview.
