Despite its famed neutrality, Switzerland is not immune to extremism. Now experts are sounding the alarm about the new form of radical activities that threaten the country’s security.
There is “a significant deterioration in the security situation in Switzerland,” the Federal Council said in May, listing the top-five risks it considers to be the most serious at the present time.
They are:
- Threat of terrorism, which “continues to be dominated by the jihadist movement.”
- Violent extremism, from both left and right, “is still active.”
- The threat of espionage against Switzerland “is very high.”
- Russia, which “has developed complex strategies to circumvent sanctions and procure Swiss goods and technologies.”
- “Critical infrastructure is threatened by physical attacks and cyberattacks.”
But now another form of radical movement is also emerging in Switzerland: nihilism.
Simply put (though there is nothing simple about it), nihilists believe that life has no meaning, purpose, or value.
While this may give an impression that since those who subscribe to this idea care about nothing and are therefore harmless, reality is proving otherwise.
‘Violent nihilism’
Rather than being driven by traditional political or religious ideologies, as most movements are, radiclised nihilists, according to a report by RTS public broadcaster, “glorify violence for violence’s sake, without any underlying ideology.
This movement primarily attracts young people radicalised online.
“In the case of extremist nihilism, violence is not only a means, but also an end in itself,” radicalisation expert Géraldine Casutttold told RTS in an interview.
“This violence aims to undermine society’s moral foundations,” she added.
What is happening?
This phenomenon has already taken root in other countries before spreading and gaining momentum in Switzerland.
Adherents “glorify and encourage violence in various forms,” according to the report.
“Some target vulnerable young people, forcing them to self-harm, torture animals, or film sexual acts. The violence can escalate to suicide or murder. Others glorify perpetrators of mass killings or publish guides for committing violent acts.”
In fact, committing and documenting an act of violence grants status within the group. Victims then frequently become perpetrators themselves.
‘Violent sub-culture’
Serge Terriblini, head of Vaud’s Radicalisation Prevention Unit (UPRAD), defined this type of nihilism as “a violent sub-culture, a trend that will undoubtedly gain in strength. We must be ready to combat it.”
The fact that it mostly attracts young people is actually a positive sign, Terriblini pointed out.
“De-radicalising young people is easier because their personalities, identity and world views are not yet fully defined. So we can hopefully re-orient them more effectively than older extremists.”
