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Building Unity Through Fact-Based Narratives
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Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com/2605769057
This thought piece was written by Salzburg Global Fellows Dzhivan Mkrtchyan, Mayssa Merzouki, Iryna Tsunovska and Pedro Ivo Machado de Oliveira. They attended the Public Policy New Voices Europe session on "Rebuilding Trust and Cohesion in European Public Policy".
The views expressed in this article are those of these Fellows individually and should not be taken to represent those of Salzburg Global or any organizations to which they are affiliated.
In recent years, societies around the world have witnessed a troubling surge in polarization fueled by the spread of disinformation and misinformation. What once seemed like fringe narratives have now moved to the mainstream, reshaping political debates during elections and shaping public opinion. For example, a 2024 study of three European countries (France, Italy, and Spain) documented 239 “racial hoaxes” spread during the COVID-19 pandemic, showing how false claims about immigrants and minorities were leveraged to amplify ethnic stereotypes.
Populist politicians have frequently capitalized on political power by weaponizing fear and resentment, as well as targeting immigrants and minority groups as scapegoats for broader social and economic insecurities and anxieties. Some characteristics of this rhetoric involve spreading falsehoods, framing diversity as a threat rather than a strength, deepening social divisions, and undermining democratic values.
This toxic dynamic has tangible consequences and is currently widespread across continents. It is possible to notice a marked rise in discrimination, hate crimes, and institutionalized exclusion against racial, ethnic, religious, immigrant, and sexual minorities. For instance:
- In Europe overall, racist, xenophobic, and anti-religious crimes rose: one report recorded 16,000 such crimes in 2024, an 11% increase from 2023, with many offenses targeting people of African descent and Muslims.
- In Germany, recent data show a marked rise in hate-motivated offenses linked to xenophobic and far-right narratives. According to the German Interior Ministry’s 2023 report on politically motivated crime, over 26,000 far-right crimes were recorded in 2022, including 1,170 violent attacks, many targeting immigrants, Muslims, or people perceived as foreign. The same report noted a massive surge in anti-immigrant disinformation circulating online, which German authorities identified as a key driver behind the rise in extremist incidents and public hostility toward minority communities.
Meanwhile, digital platforms amplify these narratives faster than they can be corrected, blurring the line between fact and fiction. Social media studies have found that anti-immigration content tends to spread more quickly (1.66 times faster to be exact) than pro-immigration messages. Examples of how this plays out in politics are manifold. From major electoral campaigns in the U.S. and Europe to far-right parties gaining traction, populist rhetoric grounded in fear and exclusion helps normalize prejudice. The result is a global environment where discrimination becomes institutionalized, solidarity erodes, and social cohesion weakens.
Understanding this interplay between misinformation, populism, and violence is crucial if we want to confront the forces that seek to divide rather than unite us in our increasingly interconnected world. Our goal must be to devise strategies that counter the weaponization of misinformation and disinformation, particularly as they target immigrants and minorities.
Map of Power
Misinformation and disinformation are not abstract nuisances - they are instruments. Deployed deliberately, they erode trust, incite hostility, and isolate already vulnerable communities. To counter this weaponization, we need more than good intentions - we need a clear understanding of who holds power, who shapes opinion, and where change is truly possible.
The Map of Power illustrates this landscape by identifying the actors capable of influencing narratives around migrants and minorities. It divides them by power (their ability to create change) and position (whether they support or oppose positive efforts). Yellow represents powerful institutions such as governments, regulators, and media; orange shows influential figures like educators, NGOs, and activists. Migrants and minorities fall within the “weak + supportive” quadrant - committed to truth but lacking influence.
Our goal is to empower migrants and minorities with accurate information and strong support, while reducing the influence of those who rely on misinformation to divide communities.
Action Plan
The first phase of the action plan will be implemented at the local/community level. Based on the Map of Power outlined above, several actors will be at the core of the action plan. What is needed are community champions. These include educators (teachers, coaches, etc.) who have the proximity and trust of migrant and minority communities, especially when they are minorities themselves. Small companies and businesses can also contribute by hiring from these communities and sensitizing their customers to dis/misinformation. Additionally, civil society (such as activists, NGOs, and independent journalists) can play a critical role in reaching a broader public audience, especially through social media. Furthermore, when possible, working with local law enforcement (especially if they are part of these marginalized communities) can help legitimize the initiative. Ultimately and most importantly, these community champions need to create partnerships within and across minority and migrant communities to empower their voices and amplify them beyond the local level to the regional and national levels.
At the second stage, actions will be taken to appeal to local and national authorities. An appeal will be submitted to the local council concerning disinformation and false narratives targeting minorities and migrants. It will justify how such content violates their rights, with examples showing its impact on their interests and how it discredits their social status.
After registration, the appeal will be forwarded to the relevant local council body, such as the Standing Committee on Legality. Applicants may be invited to a committee meeting to present their position, join the discussion, and communicate with council members. Following the review, the committee will prepare a positive conclusion and recommend submitting the issue to a council session.
The draft decision will include recognition of disinformation as a factor harming the rights of minorities and migrants, an action plan to counter it, and an appeal to national authorities - parliament, government, president, and the human rights ombudsman - to develop a nationwide program to combat such disinformation.
This decision will then be sent to national bodies, where relevant committees will adopt programs, regulations, or recommendations to prevent disinformation and protect minority and migrant rights at both local and national levels.
Local media can also play a key role in fighting dis/misinformation given its wide, yet localized audience reach. Additionally, shareable social media content such as podcasts and use of different media platforms to target different audiences (i.e. Facebook for middle-aged groups, and TikTok and Instagram for younger generations) can be a tool for educating audiences on dis/misinformation practices. Further, legal experts such as lawyers and judges may play a critical role in combatting false or misleading information targeting migrants and minority groups. Their knowledge could prove essential when working in collaboration with these communities, as they could provide training for the public to help counter this issue through litigation.
Working Together To Move Forward
Misinformation now spreads faster than fact, deepening globalization and fueling discrimination against migrants and minority communities. Real progress starts at the community level. Local leaders and civil society groups are best equipped to challenge deceptive stories and replace them with lived reality. Governments must also recognize disinformation as a genuine threat to human rights and strengthen protections, media literacy, and accountability.
But no sector can do this alone. Journalists, legal experts, public institutions, and community networks must work together to restore trust in information. Combating division begins with defending the truth - and that responsibility belongs to all of us.
