The so-called “Kalergi Plan” is one of the most persistent far-right antisemitic conspiracy theories circulating online today. At its core, it falsely claims that Jewish elites are secretly working to destroy Europe’s white population through mass immigration and cultural mixing. This conspiracy theory has no basis in reality. Instead, it is a modern distortion of the work and legacy of Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi – a visionary who devoted his life to uniting Europe and preventing war, not plotting its destruction.
Who Was Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi?
Richard Nikolaus Graf von Coudenhove-Kalergi (1894-1972) was a philosopher, politician, and the founder of the Pan-European Movement. Born to a multicultural family – his father was an Austrian diplomat and his mother Japanese – Kalergi grew up with a global perspective. He studied philosophy and history in Vienna and earned his doctorate in 1916.
In 1923, he published Pan Europa, launching a movement that called for political and economic unity in Europe. Kalergi believed that a united Europe was the only way to prevent future wars. He saw nationalism and division as threats – and European integration as a path to peace.
His ideas gained support. In 1926, 2,000 delegates gathered in Vienna for the first Congress of the Pan-European Union, electing Kalergi president of its Central Council. But not everyone welcomed his vision. The Nazis – who had their own violent ideas about Europe – targeted him early on. Hitler’s regime saw Kalergi’s push for cooperation and multiculturalism as a direct threat. When the Nazis launched their infamous book burnings in 1933, all of Kalergi’s works published before May of that year were destroyed.
By 1938, he was forced to flee Austria. He lived in France, then the United States, continuing to fight for a peaceful Europe. After the war, he returned to Europe and helped lay the groundwork for what would eventually become the European Union.
Why the “Kalergi Plan” Is Antisemitic
For several reasons:
– It scapegoats Jews for modern social and political changes – especially immigration and multiculturalism – fitting into centuries-old antisemitic narratives about Jewish control.
– It spreads fear by claiming a hidden elite is plotting to destroy European identity.
– It revives Nazi-era tropes about Jewish manipulation and world domination.
– It fuels hatred not just toward Jews, but also toward immigrants, refugees, and anyone who supports diversity and inclusion.
What Did He Actually Stand For?
Kalergi’s entire life was dedicated to the idea that peace comes from unity. He believed in cooperation across borders – not erasure of cultures. He saw immigration and cultural exchange as natural parts of a globalized world, not a threat to identity. In his 1925 book Practical Idealism, Kalergi speculated about how societies might change through cultural and racial mixing over time. These ideas were philosophical – not a political program or secret agenda.
Nowhere in his work did he outline anything like a “Kalergi Plan.” The phrase never existed during his lifetime.
Where Did the “Kalergi Plan” Come From?
The myth of the “Kalergi Plan” didn’t appear until decades after his death. It was invented by Austrian neo-Nazi Gerd Honsik in the early 2000s. Honsik took parts of Practical Idealism out of context and falsely claimed that Kalergi wanted to destroy Europe’s white population and replace it with a mixed-race society led by Jews.
According to this conspiracy theory, mass immigration is not just a policy issue – it is part of a secret effort to commit “white genocide.” Jews are framed as both the masterminds and the beneficiaries. But none of this is true. Kalergi never promoted forced migration, never advocated racial replacement, and never suggested Jewish domination.
This theory is not just wrong – it is dangerous.
How It Spread Online
Social media and internet forums gave the “Kalergi Plan” conspiracy new life. It began spreading in far-right and white nationalist communities, especially during times of political anxiety around immigration and globalization. The internet makes it easy for false information to go viral – especially when it confirms people’s fears.
Misleading videos, memes, and blog posts helped amplify the lie. And once embedded in online communities, the theory became hard to uproot – even though it is based on complete distortion.
The Real Lesson
The “Kalergi Plan” is a perfect example of how false information can be weaponized to spread hate. It distorts the legacy of a man who stood for unity and peace and uses his name to promote antisemitism and division.
Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi never wrote a plan to destroy Europe. He dreamed of a united, peaceful continent – where cultures coexist and people work together. That dream was attacked by the Nazis, and today it’s being twisted again by those who seek to divide.
It’s up to us to challenge these lies – and to protect the truth.
