Unveiling Far-Right Terrorism in Central Europe

• In Event: Mobilization and Polarization in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

In 2022, the targeted killing of two LGBT+ individuals in Bratislava triggered an investigation into far-right terrorism in Slovakia and Central Europe. This paper analyzes the Bratislava shooter's manifesto using mixed methods for qualitative and quantitative content analysis to identify ideological elements. A comparative analysis includes manifestos of other far-right figures, recognized as role models by the attacker, contextualized within broader far-right ideologies and conspiracy theories. Additionally, it examines the manifesto's themes in the Central European political context, highlighting low societal resistance to pro-Russian and disinformation narratives. The goal is to identify specific narratives and motivations that may have influenced the shooter, particularly in his relationship to religion, Russia, and the Covid-19 pandemic, presenting a perspective different from the mainstream approach of the far right.

Author

• Jan Charvát, Charles University