How the Far Right Has Co-opted the Model of Interreligious Dialogue

This session analyzes the role and impact of interreligious dialogue in online neo-Fascist communities, arguing that interreligious dialogue among the political far-right is used in ways to co-opt core ideas around inclusion to consolidate power across religious lines around an apocalyptic view on the environment (eco-fascism), antisemitism, and/or masculinity. Interfaith and interreligious dialogue is often seen as a politically moderate or progressive project, intended to create communities where people of all religious backgrounds may be equitably treated in society. This session demonstrates the ways that certain methods of interreligious dialogue are easily used in these far-right communities for countering stated goals of traditional interreligious and interfaith inclusion projects. Participants begin to recognize communication methods that incidentally give space for interfaith advocacy to be co-opted.