Adapted by:
Miguel Jorge
WriterJournalist. I've spent more than half of my life writing about technology, science, and culture. Before landing here, I worked at Telefónica, Prisa, Globus Comunicación, Hipertextual, and Gizmodo. I'm part of Webedia's cross-section team.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
The seemingly parodic scene shared the spotlight with Donald Trump’s inauguration day. During his first hours in the White House, the new president made headlines alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The reason: a gesture seen around the world. For Musk, it was a simple act of euphoria. For others, it was a provocation with clear Nazi overtones that highlighted the shift toward the far right in the U.S. In Sweden, the far right also appears to be making a comeback.
Children: an ultra-target. According to The Guardian, Sweden is facing a troubling shift in its far-right landscape. The most alarming change is the declining age of recruits, with children as young as 10 being targeted, particularly in areas such as Värmland.
Why? According to sociologist Lars Stiernelöf, a specialist in extremism prevention, some minors—driven by the influence of figures like Trump and Musk, who have popularized gestures associated with the far right—have begun imitating Nazi symbols. However, they often do so not out of ideology but as a fashion statement, without understanding its seriousness.
This initial trivialization opens the door to recruitment, where violent groups exploit the emotional vulnerability of isolated young people without strong social networks.
The far right’s evolution. As The Guardian reports, although the Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) has lost strength since the U.S. designated it a terrorist group, new, smaller, and harder-to-track organizations have emerged. These include Aktivklubb Sverige and Gym XIV, which use social media platforms such as TikTok to recruit members before moving conversations to private spaces.
These organizations have established international ties with similar networks in Europe and the U.S. Their strategy involves early indoctrination and physical training for violent purposes under the narrative of an alleged “impending race war.”
Recruitment profile. This movement’s recruitment profile has also changed. In previous decades, strong young men seeking notoriety were the primary recruits. Today, the targets are often the opposite: vulnerable youth without a sense of belonging and with significant exposure to extremist content through smartphones.
This shift has fueled loneliness and radicalization among children who, lacking family or community support, find in these groups a false sense of community and purpose. This pattern has contributed to the rise of so-called “lone wolves”—individuals who commit violent acts without direct coordination but are driven by the same ideology of hate.
Deje, the Swedish far right’s epicenter. The small town of Deje has become a hub of far-right activity, hosting the Swedish headquarters of the Hammerskins, a white supremacist group banned in Germany. It serves as a meeting place for organizations such as the NMR and international visitors, including members of the Proud Boys.
Although their numbers are small, their influence is significant. They operate training and indoctrination facilities, including the Gym XIV club, which local authorities recently shut down.
Racism, misogyny, and hate. These groups don’t just promote racism. Their rhetoric also includes misogyny, anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, and conspiracy theories such as the so-called “Great Replacement.” Figures from the so-called manosphere, including retired kickboxer Andrew Tate and Swedish YouTuber Marcus Follin (The Golden One), play a role in normalizing extreme ideologies among young people searching for identity and belonging.
Digital radicalization. The Swedish Security Service has warned of the rapid spread of radicalization through digital spaces, including social media and video games. These platforms attract minors who have not yet reached adolescence.
The combination of social isolation, political polarization, and exposure to extremist propaganda has created fertile ground for ideological violence, normalizing hate and threats in public discourse.
A global phenomenon? The Guardian concluded its report with an important observation: The rise of Sweden’s far right is part of a broader international trend. Figures like Trump and Musk have symbolically legitimized these movements.
Researchers, including Jonathan Leman, have noted that these groups now feel more aligned with mainstream political discourse following the U.S.’ shift toward the far right. While some government measures—such as increased surveillance and prevention programs—aim to curb the phenomenon, the lack of community ties, the loneliness of young people, and the increasing sophistication of digital propaganda, amplified by algorithms, keep the threat alive and, perhaps worse, continually expanding.
Image | Mert Kahveci (Unsplash)
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