According to the recent report by the Swedish security service, the threat of Islamist extremism has been waning, as opposed to that of right-wing extremism. The latter, however, has been expanded to include, among others, anti-feminism, animal rights activism and climate activism, which raised many eyebrows.<\/span><\/p>\n In a recent annual report by the Swedish Security Police (S\u00e4po), the internal \u201cright-wing extremism\u201d, whose definition has been greatly expanded, has been identified<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>as a major threat.<\/span><\/p>\n In its new yearbook, S\u00e4po claimed that the terrorist threat from violent Islamists<\/strong><\/span><\/a> is waning across the Western world, as opposed to that from right-wing extremists, fuelled by \u201cinfluence campaigns\u201d from Russia and China. The \u201cextremists\u201d are said to be radicalised by violent propaganda on the Internet and in social media.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt is a development that is supported by foreign power and which serves to increase polarisation in our society. Several individuals are radicalised via the Internet on the basis of racism, xenophobia and other conspiracy theories\u201d, S\u00e4po chief Klas Friberg told<\/strong><\/span><\/a> national broadcaster SVT.<\/span><\/p>\n S\u00e4po accused Russia of intelligence activities against Sweden and using economic means, such as strategic purchases, in order to increase polarisation in society and undermine it. Russia was also claimed to have \u201cextremist groups\u201d in Sweden, who work as proxy agents to convey its message. A major emphasis in the report was put on unfounded allegations, such as that Russia has interfered in other countries’ elections.<\/span><\/p>\n China, by contrast, was alleged to carry out advanced cyber espionage to promote its own economic development and to develop its military capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat we have seen lately is how the Chinese intelligence threat has increased and is now on a par with Russia’s,\u201d S\u00e4po senior analyst Kennet Alexandersson said.<\/span><\/p>\n In the yearbook, S\u00e4po also took the initiative to broaden the definition of \u201cright-wing extremism\u201d. According to senior analyst Ahn-Za Hagstr\u00f6m, the values of \u201cviolence-promoting right-wing extremism\u201d are much broader than \u201cracism and xenophobia\u201d and allegedly include nationalism, resistance to LGBT activism and criticism of feminism.<\/span><\/p>\n Furthermore, Hagstr\u00f6m lambasted internet free speech as a major problem. According to S\u00e4po, the digitalisation of society has facilitated the spread of what it considers \u201cextremist\u201d propaganda. An example of such messaging is that society has changed, with phrasings like \u201cthe country we once knew is gone\u201d and \u201cpoliticians have lost their grip\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI cannot stress enough the importance of the internet for violent extremism. New digital platforms provide completely different conditions for communication and opportunities to find like-minded individuals. This is where they are inspired and express their affiliation and allegiance to the leader, movement or vision,\u201d Hagstr\u00f6m noted in the report.<\/span><\/p>\n This is not the first time reports by Swedish security institutions, such as S\u00e4po or Military Intelligence and Security Service (Must), feature Russia and China among alleged threats. The \u201cRussian threat\u201d was also utilised by the Swedish top brass<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, including Defence Minister Peter Hultquist to justify a spate of military beef-ups<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, including a massive budget hike, a re-militarisation<\/a><\/strong><\/span> of the Baltic island of Gotland<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and a return of conscription.<\/span><\/p>\n S\u00e4po’s report raised eyebrows, especially the catch-all definition of right-wing extremism.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo climate issues are now violent extremism?\u201d journalist Mattias Albinsson responded to S\u00e4po, attaching an image of climate activist Greta Thunberg.<\/span><\/p>\n Klimatfr\u00e5gor \u00e4r v\u00e5ldsbejakande h\u00f6gerextremism? pic.twitter.com\/YQVFrpQOw9<\/a><\/p>\n — Mattias Albinsson (@mattiasreporter) March 26, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n