By Osita Ifezue
Osita Ifezue is a doctoral researcher at the University of Turku’s INVEST Research Flagship and a visiting researcher at THL (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare). His work focuses on racism, integration, and the sociopolitical structures that shape inclusion and exclusion in Finnish society. He is also the founder of Entegrate Finland, a nonprofit organization focused on grassroots development and community building.
Cultural and immigrant xenophobia is growing across the globe, stoked by fear of people
who look, talk, and act differently from what society considers normal. In Western countries,
“send them back” has become a mantra for nationalist and political campaigns, with no fear of reprisal. These bold racial acts put extra pressure on society, creating an imaginary
us-against-them dynamic, often with immigrants as the target and resources as what must be
protected at all costs.
Reports about violent attacks driven by nationalism in some Western countries remind me of
the 1994 Rwandan conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes that claimed about 800,000
lives in one week. The conflict started at the blink of an eye, triggered by political tensions,
and turned neighbours into enemies overnight, with politicians using the dehumanizing slur
like inyenzi (cockroach) as rallying cries in killing marches. It took the intervention of the
international community to quell the genocide, restoring Rwanda to peace and democracy.
Though the Rwandan conflict was tribal and distant from Western-style nationalistic
demonstrations, it shared similarities in modus operandi with some global nationalist
movements.
In May 2026, South African nationalists rallied in demonstrations called March and March,
and Operation Dudula (force out) saw vigilantes hit the streets advocating for stronger
immigration law enforcement, while violently attacking businesses and individuals who
spoke or looked different. According to Human Rights Watch, the violence that ensued
claimed about 62 lives and even forced some well-established foreign nationals to close
businesses, with a serious economic hit. These demonstrations follow patterns similar to
growing Western nationalism. The swiftness of nationalist rallies to flare up into violence
starts with romanticizing dehumanization that could result in such catastrophic consequences when unchecked. Dehumanization was a key element in the violation of human rights, and a key galvanizing component of some xenophobic nationalist movements.
On June 18, 2026, the European Parliament voted for the new Return Regulation on swift
deportation processing of illegal migrants. The absurd part is the victory chant of “send them
back” from right-wing MEPs that echoed in parliament. So shocking is this racist celebration
of victory that it drew condemnation from many NGOs and some institutions like Amnesty
International and the United Nations. Yet, without much bother, a Finnish MEP, Sebastian
Tynkkynen, who the court had convicted for racial abuse, took to his social media page to
further escalate racial insults to fellow MEPs.
It is an open secret that white nationalists have become bolder in promoting divisive ideas,
increasing funding and gaining more followers. This popularity is boosting racial rhetoric that
could result in violence. In August 2026, interior minister Mari Rantanen and Wille Rydman,
Social Affairs and Health Minister, posted a picture on social media wearing the infamous
white “send them back” face caps in defiance of condemnations. Some politicians aren’t
scared of the backlash from using racially dehumanizing slurs or rocking brand merchandise with mantras like “send them back” to rally support and funding. But when highly placed individuals become models of racism, it trickles down to society and can embolden violence.
Some recent incidents of violence are linked to incitement from nationalistic
demonstrations. A video from the Black-Blue Movement in Tampere on May 1, 2026, showed
a woman from a counter-march violently beaten for holding an anti-Nazi sign. Similar
racially motivated violence and hate speech have been on the rise across Western countries,
which can create a level of uncertainty about the future even for legal immigrants.
According to Amnesty International, many politicians have been scapegoating immigrants to
turn the attention away from their failed policies. The result has been brazen abuse of
international human rights. Western nationalism is rising fast because of economic and
cultural uncertainty. The demand for stronger immigration laws might serve national interest, with a promise to boost economic progress and resource distribution. Yet, when the
dehumanizing element is infused into such rallies and policies, the goal becomes
questionable.
Tribal and racial slurs whipped into derogatory campaign slogans like “send them back,
inyenzi, and duduala” have serious polarizing consequences in society. The argument is that
national proactive solutions to the challenges of resource distribution or illegal migration
should focus on long-term sustainability and not polarizing the population. Such solutions
and movements must put respect for international human rights and dignity above all else. No social or material gain is worth the deprivation of another human life and dignity.
Institutional checks and balances play an important role in maintaining civility and order
amid growing racial tensions. These institutions should be quick to disown the infringements
of human dignity and uphold social justice.
