Øyvind Strømmen

The Dark Net. On Right-Wing Extremism, Counter-Jihadism and Terror in Europe

In the wake of July 22nd, Øyvind Strømmen is one of the few people qualified to provide in-depth knowledge about the background of the terrible tragedy that unfolded in Oslo and on Utøya. In the book The Dark Net Strømmen argues that the attitudes and the hatred made obvious to all on July 22nd are in no way unique. It can be traced back in time, both to the Norwegian past and to right-wing extremist parties and movements all across Europe.

Strømmen gives an account of the ideological positions which served as points of departure for what became terrorist action. He stresses in particular the so-called counter-Jihadism, internet radicalization and movements parallel to Islamism. One of the crucial issues for activists within this sphere is the fear that groups within Europe’s immigrant communities are in fact agents ready to carry out a much grander, more invasive plan: a future Eurabia, where non-western settlers are in the majority in Europe, and gradually attempt to replace western civilization and culture with conformity to Muslim doctrine and lack of freedom.