New Zealand has now come face to face with 21st Century terrorism and the politics of extreme hate and violence. It is now clear that no country is immune from political violence and extreme sectarian politics.
People in this country have expressed their grief and feelings of shock at the terrorist attack that happened on Friday in Christchurch. The attack on Muslim worshippers has been met with a deep sense of humanity and empathy from people in New Zealand. A universal sense of humanity has come to the fore, with a heartfelt sense of solidarity shown towards the victims of this terrorist attack and their communities. It is difficult to comprehend such as evil act as this anti-Muslim attack. And this outpouring of love, of sadness, and of grief after this horrific event points to the ability to make new and lasting interfaith and intercommunity connections.
Many questions need to be asked about this terrorist attack. We do need to understand why it happened, and why it took place in New Zealand. And we need to understand the motivations of the terrorist, as well as the warped ideology that he held to.
To prevent further terrorist attacks, and to counter extreme nationalist politics, we need to analyse this horrific event, and the person or people connected with this fascistic violent act in Christchurch. For example, do we have an actual base of “extreme rightwing” politics in New Zealand? Certainly, New Zealand does not have a large extreme nationalist movement. However, this country does have a history of small extremist groups that have promoted various forms of fascistic ideology.
We are yet to know if Brenton Tarrant had any connections with local extreme right groups or individuals in this country. However, it seems that Tarrant gained his warped world view from the internet and from his international travels. And he was influenced by other “rightwing terrorists” and murderers, including Norwegian murderer Anders Breivik.
Norwegian white supremacist Anders Breivik had also released a manifesto before his murderous spree. The possible correlation or connection between Anders Breivik’s manifesto and that of Tarrant’s will be of interest to police, as well as to political scientists attempting to understand the motivations and ideology behind the Christchurch mosque killings.
How could this terrorist attack happen in New Zealand? And have we been blind to the rise of extreme reactionary politics in this country? Some commentators are pointing the finger at free speech liberals. Such commentators have argued that New Zealand has allowed alt-right figures to circulate their toxic views in New Zeeland and that such toxic views are the basis behind the Christchurch terrorist attacks.
In the last year, alt-right Canadians Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux visited New Zealand and received significant media coverage. And rightwing psychologist Jordon Peterson also recently visited these shores, and received both praise as well as severe criticisms from the media and the general public.
Therefore, is it fair to point the finger at “free speech liberals” and at New Zealand’s open-door attitude to alt-figures? Certainly, the rise of the alt-right internationally is having an impact here in New Zealand. Any person can easily access alt-right material online, and the warped politics and pseudo-science of the alt-right has appeal to some alienated young males here.
The finger has also been pointed at politicians who engage in a politics of “Othering”. Anti-immigrant politics, especially anti-Chinese sentiments, have been promoted by politicians across the political spectrum. And the NZ First party and its leader Winston Peters’ have flirted with anti-Muslim politics.
The argument goes that the politics of Othering - the demonization of the “foreign” Other - provides the necessary fertiliser for more extreme and violent forms of nationalist, communalist and sectarian politics. And a number of New Zealand politicians have all played a role in promoting various forms of xenophobic politics in New Zealand.
Winston Peters of NZ First is infamous for his attacks on the Chinese community and has stated that the large presence of Asian immigrants has had a negative impact on New Zealand’s culture. Peters has also played the Islamophobic card, and has stated in the past that Muslims in New Zealand put on a moderate face while hiding their extremism behind closed mosque doors.
Don Brash - previously a National Party leader and subsequently an Act Party leader - has spread the falsehood that Maori in New Zealand are privileged and enjoy exclusive beneficial rights. He has also played the xenophobic card with his call to give preferential treatment to immigrants from countries with “our values”.
Phil Twyford of the Labour Party infamously acted to scapegoat Chinese when he claimed that “foreign” Chinese were to blame for New Zealand’s housing crisis. And the Labour Party leader at the time, Andrew Little, targeted immigrants and claimed “high levels of immigration” were to blame for the lack of job opportunities for “New Zealanders”.
Even the socially progressive Greens have dabbled in anti-immigrant rhetoric, such as when former Green co-leader Russel Norman complained of Chinese investment in NZ and of Chinese businesses using “foreign Chinese workers”. In 2006, the Green Party reacted strongly to proposals from a visiting Chinese minister who put forward the position for allowing increased numbers of Chinese workers here on temporary vistas. A Dominion Post article of 5 October 2006 said, ‘but the Green Party says it would trigger a “race to the bottom” for New Zealand wages and conditions.’ Also: ‘Dr Norman said there would have to be a genuine shortage of New Zealand workers and the Government would have to prove it had made efforts to offer training to local workers to fill vacancies.’
However, despite the finger pointing, there is no direct link between alt-right figures coming to NZ and this terrorist attack. Neither is there a direct link between anti-immigrant sentiments promoted by mainstream politicians and the actions of extreme nationalist terrorist Brenton Tarrant. Nonetheless, alt-right ideology and the politics of Othering can certainly provide the fertilizer for various forms of toxic xenophobic and racist politics.
Once we have moved beyond the grief stage with this tragic event, let us start thinking carefully about how we can act against the rising popularity of this new form of extreme nationalist ideology. And let us have an open discussion, in good faith, that leads to an understanding of this horrific event.
