A controversial draft document from a key US government agency has sparked alarm for appearing to adopt rhetoric directly from far-right conspiracy theories about Europe. The text, which discusses demographic changes, uses the inflammatory term "civilisational erasure," a phrase deeply embedded in extremist narratives.
Language Mirroring Extremist Narratives
The document in question is a draft of the United States Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. Dated December 2025, it was prepared by the US State Department. A specific section focusing on Europe and Eurasia warns that "demographic shifts" could lead to "civilisational erasure."
This terminology is a direct echo of the core tenet of the 'Great Replacement' conspiracy theory. This racist and antisemitic ideology, promoted by white supremacists and the far-right, falsely claims there is a deliberate plot to replace white European populations with non-white people through immigration.
Experts were swift to condemn the language. Professor Kathleen Belew, a historian of white power movements at the University of Chicago, stated the term is "unmistakable" and "comes directly from the lexicon of white power and the militant far right." She emphasised that its use in an official draft represents a significant and worrying normalisation of extremist ideas.
Official Response and Internal Concerns
When confronted, a State Department spokesperson claimed the document was an early working draft and did not represent final US policy. They stated the language would be revised, asserting that "the United States unequivocally rejects the hateful ideology of 'replacement theory'."
However, the incident has raised serious questions about the processes and influences within the department. The fact that such language could reach a draft stage suggests either a failure of oversight or the infiltration of these ideas among policy writers. Current and former officials expressed deep concern, with one noting the terminology was "wildly inappropriate" and should have been flagged immediately.
The document was part of a series mandated by a 2020 congressional act known as the Global Fragility Act. Its stated goal is to shift US policy towards preventing conflict in vulnerable regions. The inclusion of this conspiratorial language about Europe, a region not typically considered "fragile" in this context, has further puzzled analysts.
A Dangerous Normalisation of Hateful Rhetoric
The implications of this episode extend beyond a simple drafting error. Security experts warn that the use of such language by a major government legitimises dangerous falsehoods. The 'Great Replacement' theory has directly inspired numerous acts of deadly terrorist violence, including the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings and the 2022 attack in Buffalo, New York.
By embedding this rhetoric into a strategic framework, even in draft form, the document risks validating a toxic narrative that frames immigration and demographic change as an existential threat. This aligns with the political strategies of certain far-right European parties and could undermine efforts to combat racism and promote social cohesion.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of how extremist concepts can migrate from the fringes into mainstream discourse. It highlights the critical need for vigilance within governmental institutions to ensure that policy is based on fact and analysis, not on debunked and hateful conspiracy theories. The final version of the strategy will now be scrutinised intensely for any residual traces of this dangerous ideology.
