Alternative Spirituality Movement Increasingly Aligned with Far-Right Politics, Slovak Journalists Report

Alternative spirituality movements, commonly known as "ezo" in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, have undergone a significant transformation from personal development focused groups in the 1990s to communities increasingly influenced by far-right ideologies and conspiracy theories. Religious studies experts estimate that up to half of the Czech population may be drawn to alternative spiritual practices. The shift accelerated during periods of economic crisis, increased migration, and the COVID-19 pandemic, when apocalyptic scenarios and disinformation began penetrating esoteric communities. The trend reflects a broader sense among ordinary people that they cannot influence how the world around them is changing, leading them to seek alternative explanations and solutions through spiritual and political movements that promise greater control and understanding of complex global events.