QAnon and the Radicalization of the American Right: Transatlantic Panel Discussion

On February 25, we talked about the QAnon movement and the radicalization of the US-American right. Panelists Melissa Grant (The New Republic), Dr. Frank Usbeck (GRASSI Museum for Ethnology Leipzig), and Teresa Eder (Wilson Center Washington DC) brought personal and unique insights into the QAnon conspiracy theory while discussing the role costumes and symbols play in relation to the January 6th storming of the capitol. The live conversation was moderated by Dr. Sebastian Herrmann (Institute for American Studies Leipzig).

Melissa Grant talked about the storming of the capital as an attempt to block the peaceful transfer of power. The well-organized insurrection took both the American people as well as law enforcement and government officials by surprise yet perhaps shouldn’t have come as a surprise. She pointed out that America has a history of costumes which allow people to distance themselves from the seriousness of their own actions.

The usage of cultural appropriation and ritualistic regalia and language in right-wing movements has a longer history, specifically in the German context. Frank Usbeck explained that Native American culture finds »representation« going back to Nazi-Germany with the usage of symbols to vicitimize the movement in an international context. 

According to Teresa Eder, the rise of QAnon can be in part attributed to its utilization of social media, specifically new-age influencers on Instagram, as well as meme culture, to lure new members in. Members also include right wing evangelists as well as disillusioned ex-Democrats. The pandemic and fear surrounding vaccines as well as a current political trend toward disinformation all came together to boost QAnon into a »mega-conspiracy.«

You can watch the insightful exchange here: