Eklat in the Ö1: Hafenecker matters moderator for 'deep state'!

Eklat in the Ö1: Hafenecker matters moderator for 'deep state'!

On Wednesday morning there was a heated exchange between the moderator Martina Pecile and the General Secretary of the FPÖ, Hafenecker. Pecile asked a provocative question about the term "deep state", which has been increasingly discussed by the FPÖ in recent years. She wanted to know from Hafenecker whether he was aware that this term is mainly used in right -wing extremist and conspiracy theoretical circles. Hafeneck reacted with resentment and made it clear that he did not want to be represented as a right -wing extremist from ORF. This confronted Pecile with the remark that nobody had said this. As a result, Hafenecker rated the question as "stupid" and asked for more information about an alleged "state in the state", which in his opinion was necessary.

The term "deep state" or "deep state", has established itself as a narrative since the mid-2010s, which is particularly used by right-wing extremist and conspiracy ideological movements. For example, US President Donald Trump combined this term with his criticism of political opponents and state institutions, which promotes an hostile worldview, as BR. Experts warn that such stories can contribute to radicalization and strengthen attacking narratives in the political discussion. Reports on organizations such as Attac and Greenpeace, which were described as the "state in the state", were specifically in Germany. These narratives were particularly cheered on by the CDU/CSU and led to a comprehensive request for the political neutrality of NGOs.

distribution and influence of "deep state" theories

The "Deep State" ideology describes a secret elite that rules in hidden, while democratically elected representatives are represented as puppets. Critics indicate that these stories typically contain unavoidable claims and often do not provide any verifiable hypotheses. A study by the Cemas from 2022 shows that about 12.4 percent of Germans believe in conspiracy stories such as Qanon. The AfD also took the term "Deep State" to delegitimize political opponents and to sow suspicion against state structures, which shows worrying effects in the current political debate.

The radical interpretation of this theory, as is spread in particular in right -wing extremist circles, is accompanied by the operation of stereotypes and conspiracy myths, with anti -Semitic undertones often swinging. While the political debate about the "deep state" becomes more intensive, Attac calls for targeted measures to regulate lobbying and to strengthen the democratic process to limit the influence of wealthy elites.

risks and challenges of conspiracy theories

The political discussion about the "deep state" often goes hand in hand with demands to break the alleged manipulative power of the institutions branded as unconstitutional. Not only the political neutrality of organizations is questioned, but also the independence of civil society. An example of this is the request of the CDU/CSU, which included more than 500 questions about financing and the influence of state -funded NGOs.

The discourse on the "deep state" reflects a dangerous friend-folk thinking that not only polarizes society, but also has a considerable potential for violence, as the storm on the US capitol illustrated in January 2021. In this context, it is crucial to be aware of the risks and radicalization tendencies that are associated with such stories.