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Exploring the Social, Political and Cultural Influences of Anti-immigration Vigilantism in Lesvos, Greece.

Fri, September 13, 5:00 to 6:15pm, Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest, Floor: Basement, Room 0.14

Abstract

Vigilantism that targets migrants is a prominent phenomenon in the Greek islands that host immigrants and refugees. Evidence indicates a potential link between vigilante activities and far-right groups that function in the country such as the former far-right political party and now designated criminal organization: The Golden Dawn. However, vigilantism in this location has not yet received academic attention. In this paper I discuss the findings of my PhD study on anti-immigration vigilantism on the island of Lesvos, Greece. Two broader research questions underpin this study: “What are the social, cultural and political influences of anti-immigration vigilantism on the island of Lesvos?” and “To what extent is there evidence that those responsible for vigilante activities in Lesvos share and endorse far-right views?”. The research is based on the qualitative content analysis of the websites of two far-right organizations with an established involvement in anti-immigration vigilantism in Lesvos and semi-structured interviews with victims and witnesses of anti-immigration vigilante activities. This paper will discuss how perceptions of immigrants as ethnic, religious, and criminal threats as well as perceptions of state and police illegitimacy normalize and legitimize vigilante violence. Through the employment of Vigilante Rituals Theory, Strain Theory and Differential Association Theory, this paper provides a cultural explanation of anti-immigration vigilantism focused on the ways in which righteous anger and strain resulting from perceived violations of the moral imperatives of the Greek far-right influence vigilante violence in Lesvos.

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