Analysis: Post-9/11 'War on Terror' policies linked to rise of European far-right movements

As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, analysts are examining the long-term political consequences of the ensuing global "War on Terror." According to the analysis, security policies and public discourse framed around combating terrorism in the post-9/11 era provided political space and rhetorical cover for far-right parties to advance anti-Muslim messaging in European elections and governance.

The essay suggests that linking terrorism to Islam and Muslims created conditions in which far-right movements could present themselves as defenders against a perceived cultural or security threat, allowing such parties to gain mainstream electoral legitimacy and political influence across multiple European countries over the subsequent two decades.