The ‘incredibly dangerous’ conspiracy theory becoming increasingly mainstream on the right

Extremism & Radicalization: Core Arguments - The "Great Replacement Theory," a conspiracy alleging the replacement of white populations by minorities, has migrated from fringe groups to the mainstream, repackaged with softer language but retaining dangerous concepts like "invasion" [3] - This theory often combines racism with antisemitism, falsely claiming that Jewish groups and feminists conspire to reduce white birth rates and increase immigration [7][8][9] - Misogyny plays a significant role in mobilizing violence, with gendered motivations often overlooked in extremism research [12][13][14][15] Manifestos & Transnationalization - Extremist manifestos serve as blueprints, with attackers referencing and building upon previous acts of violence and ideologies [5][16][17] - Violent extremism is transnationalizing, with the United States exporting extremist ideologies that are taking root in Europe, Australia, and even parts of the Global South [18] - The "Great Replacement Theory" is adaptable and used to demonize minorities globally [19] Political & Societal Impact - Mainstream politicians using language echoing extremist ideas normalizes these concepts and shifts the Overton window of acceptable discourse [20][21] - This normalization demonizes minorities and immigrants, potentially leading to backlash and violence [21][22] - The combination of widespread anxiety, anger, and access to weapons in a country of over 330 million people, coupled with extremist messaging, increases the risk of attacks [23] Counter-Arguments & Rebuttals - The "Great Replacement Theory" is based on false conspiracy theories and untrue ideas about danger [25] - Immigrants do not have a higher crime rate than native-born Americans [25] - Some extremist ideologies combine replacement theory with environmental concerns, attempting to draw in individuals from environmental movements [26][27]