Similarities of western right-wing populists to radical Islamists are not merely coincidental – they share the same origin.

“Neocolonialists!” – “Islamic Terrorists!”, these are the accusations with which the old and new right in the west and Islamists all over the world refer to each other. Apparently, right-wing populists and jihadists are sworn enemies. But if you take a look at the writings and authors that both movements refer to, you will find the same sources: Ernst Jünger, Martin Heidegger, Alexis Carrel. All three of them serve as reference not only for the New Right but also for the pioneers of radical Islam.

Marc Thörner points out the common origin of these thoughts and their different but still related manifestations today: Both movements condemn secularism, liberalism and homosexuality, both commit to traditional social structures and values like religion, order and obedience, self-sacrifice and martyrdom, both fight individualism and rationalism. In Syria, radical Islamists and the political right already act like allies. Will they continue their mutual hostility in Europe or will they soon congregate here as well?

For his research, Marc Thörner spoke to Alexander Gauland of German far right party AfD and travelled to the frontlines of Syrian civil war; he interviewed leading representatives of the Assad Regime, talked to Iranian writers, met Lebanese fascists and followers of Hisbollah as well as historians and Arabists in Europe.