Report on Cross-Border Extremism and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals in Ireland

Executive Summary

A report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a leading anti-extremism think tank, has identified the formation of a coordinated, “cross-border infrastructure” for anti-immigration protests and race hate incidents across Ireland. These developments present a direct and significant challenge to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on peace, reducing inequality, and fostering sustainable communities. The report highlights a new phase of organized and internationally connected mobilization that undermines social cohesion and security.

Key Findings of the ISD Report

• Organized Cross-Border Network: What began as scattered protests in late 2022 has evolved into a structured movement coordinating activities across the island of Ireland.
• Unprecedented Alliances: A notable rise in cooperation has been observed between traditionally opposed groups, specifically Northern Irish loyalists and “ethnonationalists” in the Republic of Ireland, who are finding common cause in anti-migrant grievances.
• Escalation of Tactics: The movement is characterized by escalating tactics including street protests, intimidation, targeted violence against immigrants, and coordinated online amplification of hate.
• International Influence: There is growing evidence of international involvement, including the active promotion of polarizing and anti-migrant content by Russian-aligned propaganda outlets to sow distrust and division.

Direct Challenges to Sustainable Development Goals

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   The activities described in the report fundamentally threaten the core principles of SDG 16.

   • Undermining Peace and Safety (Target 16.1): Rioting in Belfast and racist attacks on homes in Ballymena represent a severe regression from the goal of significantly reducing all forms of violence and creating peaceful societies.
   • Eroding Trust in Institutions (Target 16.6): The strategic amplification of grievances by external actors, such as the Russian-aligned “Pravda Ireland,” is a deliberate attempt to weaken trust in public institutions, which is essential for stable and just societies.
   • Threatening Inclusive Societies (Target 16.A): The formation of extremist alliances to target vulnerable groups works directly against the goal of strengthening institutions to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   The movement’s focus on immigrants and ethnic minorities is a direct assault on the goal of reducing inequality.

   • Exclusion and Discrimination (Target 10.2): Anti-immigration protests and race hate incidents actively work to disempower and exclude individuals based on their national origin, violating the principle of social and political inclusion for all.
   • Obstructing Safe Migration (Target 10.7): The creation of a hostile and violent environment for migrants obstructs progress towards facilitating orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   The targeting of individuals within their communities makes those communities less safe, inclusive, and sustainable.

   • Threatening Safe and Inclusive Housing (Target 11.1): Attacks on the homes of immigrants make housing insecure and communities unsafe, directly opposing the goal of ensuring access to adequate and safe housing for all.

Analysis of Coordinated Destabilizing Efforts

The report by extremism expert Zoe Manzi concludes that shared perceived grievances are now overriding long-standing sectarian fault lines, marking a significant shift in the political landscape. This collaboration represents a negative form of partnership that works in opposition to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Cross-Border Collaboration: Specific examples cited include the attendance of the Dublin-based group “Coolock Says No” at protests in Belfast and the appearance of former UVF members at protests in Limerick.
• International Interference: The report identifies a broader playbook of Russian and pro-Russian strategic communication designed to stoke polarization by co-opting the language of cultural and demographic threat, thereby destabilizing the region and impeding progress on the SDGs.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article directly discusses issues that undermine peace and justice, such as “rioting,” “race hate incidents,” “targeted violence,” and “intimidation.” It also highlights the role of extremist groups and foreign-aligned propaganda in “sowing distrust in public institutions” and “stoking polarisation,” which are direct threats to peaceful and inclusive societies.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The core issue of “anti-immigration protests” and “racist hate attacks” is a manifestation of inequality and discrimination based on national origin and ethnicity. The article describes a movement aimed at excluding a specific group of people (immigrants), which is contrary to the goal of reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article mentions “rioting erupted on the streets of Belfast” and “racist hate attacks on immigrants’ homes in Ballymena.” These events make communities and public spaces unsafe and non-inclusive, particularly for targeted groups, which directly opposes the goal of creating safe and resilient human settlements.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • The article’s focus on “rioting,” “widespread racist hate attacks,” “intimidation,” and “targeted violence” directly relates to this target. The rise of these incidents represents a failure to reduce violence.
2. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, in particular in developing countries, to build capacity at all levels, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.
   • The article implies a challenge to this target by describing how propaganda is used for “sowing distrust in public institutions.” The emergence of a “cross-border infrastructure” for extremism suggests a need to strengthen institutional capacity to prevent this type of organised violence and hate.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity, origin… or other status.
   • The “anti-immigration protests” and “race hate incidents” are direct actions against the social inclusion of people based on their origin and ethnicity. The movement described seeks to exclude, not include.
2. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory… practices.
   • The “racist hate attacks on immigrants’ homes” are a severe form of discriminatory practice that denies people the equal opportunity to live in safety and peace.
3. Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people…
   • The described “anti-migrant mobilisation,” characterized by “intimidation” and “targeted violence,” creates an unsafe and hostile environment for migrants, directly undermining the goal of facilitating safe migration.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
   • The article’s description of “rioting… on the streets of Belfast” and widespread protests makes public spaces unsafe and non-inclusive, especially for the immigrant communities being targeted.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number and nature of violent incidents: The article explicitly mentions “rioting,” “race hate incidents,” and “racist hate attacks on immigrants’ homes.” Tracking the frequency and severity of these events serves as a direct indicator of progress (or lack thereof) towards reducing violence (Target 16.1).
• Incidents of discrimination and harassment: The report of “widespread racist hate attacks” and “intimidation” directly corresponds to indicators measuring the proportion of the population that has experienced discrimination or harassment (relevant to Target 10.3).
• Organised extremist activity: The article points to the evolution of protests into an “increasingly structured and internationally connected movement” and “cross-border coordination between ethnonationalist groups.” Monitoring the number of coordinated protests and the collaboration between such groups is an implied indicator of the scale of the problem.
• Prevalence of online propaganda and disinformation: The mention of “Russian-aligned propaganda outlets” like “Pravda Ireland” actively “promoting polarising and anti-migrant content” implies that monitoring and analyzing such online activity is a key indicator of the forces undermining social cohesion and trust in institutions (relevant to Target 16.a).
• Public perception of safety: While not stated as a statistic, the “attacks on immigrants’ homes” directly imply a decrease in the feeling of safety for targeted populations, which is a key indicator for community safety (relevant to SDG 11 and Target 16.1).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: irishnews.com