Anti-lockdown protests and instability in Europe

1 December 2021

James Davis

(Image courtesy of Unsplash)

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of InQuire Media

As Covid cases begin to rise across Europe, the imposition of further national lockdowns has sparked aggressive and violent protests that potentially threaten the recent calm of the Covid storm. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Austria, Croatia and Italy as anger has grown over the new restrictions imposed in the past week. A number of those involved in these violent protests are themselves likely unvaccinated, which has contributed to an exacerbated sense of anxiety and frustration amongst political leaders in western Europe. The amalgamation of anti – vaxxers and dissident voices fearful of further economic and personal distress has the potential of creating a complex situation of spurring on social divisions of exclusion versus inclusion on the basis of vaccination and the supposed threat[DE1] of governmental restrictions on civil liberties.

In any liberal democracy the question of how far the line can be crossed with imposing constraints on collective civil liberties is a thorny issue that has been heightened since the emergence of Covid – 19. In Austria, protests erupted with tens of thousands of people protesting in Austria’s capital, Vienna, following the governments announcement of a national lockdown. The most contentious issue that has arisen out of this is Austria’s imposition of compulsory to vaccination , to take effect in February 2022. Austria is the first European country to make it a legal requirement to have a jab. Such measures will surely exacerbate the breakdown of any social or political cohesion and should not be followed suit by other European countries. It is vital that a more consensual course is taken, one that perhaps targets those more at risk or vulnerability, to ensure protest does not become a regular occurrence in the near future.

Similar lockdown restrictions have been imposed elsewhere in Europe with the same results of protest. In Italy a few thousand protesters gathered at the ancient Circus Mazims chariot racing grounds to oppose the “Green Pass” certificate which is required in workplaces, venues and on public transport. Notably, In Croatia, thousands took part in marches in the capital, Zagreb, to demonstrate their anger at mandatory vaccinations for public sector workers. Such measures are increasingly being viewed as justifiable and necessary within the medical community. The regional director of WHO, Dr Hans Kluge, has claimed that unless measures are tightened across Europe, half a million more deaths could be recorded by next spring.

Whilst the medical necessity is obvious and justifiable, Europe finds itself in an increasingly precarious position of social unrest becoming dismissive of this necessity. The recent protests are reflective of the current civic distrust in government and the widespread sense of minority voices and those of the ‘common people’ not being heard. It cannot be denied that the inadequate communication and handling of the Covid pandemic across Europe has led to many becoming justifiably sceptical of the word of their respective governments and their ability to follow through with their promises. Yet, the disturbing reality is that the Covid-19 pandemic within this context has also provided a perfect breeding ground for growing radicalisation and extremist narratives that have the potential of becoming ever more receptive to minority voices that are suffering economically, personally or simply through a lack of a sense of representation.

An alarming rise in neo – Nazi and Nazi symbols has made its way into protest against Covid vaccines and lockdowns. In the most recent protests in Austria, some protesters likened Alexander Schallenberg, Austria’s new chancellor, to Josef Mengele, the Nazi physician that conducted inhumane experiments on inmates in the Auschwitz camp. It is important to note that this is far from being the first use of such hateful Nazi analogies, Covid sceptics across Europe have exploited the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic and disgracefully liken the imposition of lockdowns and vaccinations to the Nazi Third Reich. Such widespread use of misinformation, and targeting Jewish victims as part of a global conspiracy to spread the Covid – 19 illness, are occurring all across the world once again as such anti – semitic attitudes have been displayed through protestors replacing the word “Jude” (Jew) on the Nazi yellow Star of David with the phrase “ungeimpft” (unvaccinated) which has become more common across Europe. For the first time many groups that would usually have nothing to do with each other in protest are uniting together under an anti – Semitic narrative which Germany’s anti – Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein, has labelled as the “cement that binds them together.”

It is the duty not only of the government, but the public as well, to confront such rhetoric and misinformation through a process of informing, persuading and listening to those protesting. Through simply shutting down these dissident voices, a sense of isolation among them will only continue to fester and exacerbate existing social tensions. It is likely that such recent Covid measures will not be the last - with the growing Covid cases further protests will also be a real possibility. It is important that the vulnerable, now more than ever before since the pandemic, are listened to and cared for in order to ensure stability throughout Europe.