Systemic rise in far-right violence in UK enabled by state failures and geopolitical proxy wars

The framing ignores how colonial legacies of divide-and-rule policies in the Middle East and South Asia continue to shape contemporary conflicts, including the weaponization of religious identity. Indigenous and decolonial scholars argue that the UK's role in the Sykes-Picot Agreement and subsequent interventions created the conditions for proxy wars that groups like HAYI exploit. The erasure of these historical patterns reinforces the myth of 'ancient hatreds' rather than systemic geopolitical engineering.

The UK's history of state-sponsored Islamophobia dates back to colonial-era 'divide and rule' tactics, which were later repurposed in the War on Terror to justify surveillance and militarization. The 1917 Balfour Declaration and subsequent British Mandate in Palestine set the stage for modern Middle Eastern conflicts, while post-WWII deindustrialization in the UK created economic grievances exploited by far-right groups. The current wave of antisemitic violence echoes 1930s Europe, where far-right movements used scapegoating to distract from economic crises.

In many Global South contexts, antisemitism and Islamophobia are framed as tools of imperialism rather than inherent religious conflicts, with Jewish and Muslim communities often standing in solidarity against state violence. Latin American liberation theology, for example, has historically resisted both antisemitic and anti-Muslim rhetoric as part of a broader struggle against colonialism. South African anti-apartheid activists have drawn parallels between Zionism and apartheid, but also emphasized the need to reject all forms of racial hatred.

Research on radicalization consistently shows that economic deprivation, state repression, and perceived foreign policy injustices are stronger predictors of extremism than religious affiliation. Studies on far-right violence in Europe demonstrate that austerity policies correlate with spikes in hate crimes, while state surveillance often exacerbates rather than reduces radicalization. The focus on Iranian proxies ignores the well-documented role of far-right networks in the UK, which have been linked to multiple terror plots.

Artists and spiritual leaders across traditions have long warned about the dangers of scapegoating, from Jewish and Muslim mystics in medieval Spain to contemporary interfaith activists in the UK. The Quranic concept of 'fitna' (chaos) is often invoked to critique both antisemitic violence and state-sponsored Islamophobia as tools of division. Indigenous Australian and Māori artists have used their work to expose how colonial powers manufacture conflict between marginalized groups to maintain control.

Scenario modeling suggests that continued securitization and geopolitical proxy wars will likely escalate both far-right and Islamist violence, creating feedback loops of retaliation. Alternative futures include de-escalation through economic justice policies, truth and reconciliation processes, and grassroots interfaith solidarity networks. The rise of AI-driven disinformation could further exacerbate divisions, requiring proactive digital literacy and community-based counter-messaging strategies.

British Jewish groups like 'Jewish Voice for Labour' and 'Independent Jewish Voices' have repeatedly condemned antisemitism while emphasizing the need to address state violence against Palestinians. Muslim communities in the UK, particularly those in economically depressed areas, report feeling caught between far-right attacks and state surveillance. Indigenous and migrant-led organizations in the UK argue that the focus on foreign proxies distracts from the UK's own role in creating conditions for extremism.