David Irving brings the great replacement theory into the economic debate

David Irving sows the great replacement theory in the economic debate

Holocaust denier historian David Irving is back in the spotlight with a message that mixes demography and economics. In a discussion forum, several users quote his claims about an alleged "planned ethnic replacement" linked to hyperinflation and the loss of purchasing power. The theory, which has been debunked many times, holds that migration changes respond to a deliberate plan to replace the native population.

The discussion centres on the idea that mass immigration and the loss of economic sovereignty are part of a single process. Some participants argue that "the conspiracy theorists were right", while others dismiss it as "a theory with no real basis". What is clear is that the great replacement myth still resonates among those looking for simple explanations for complex phenomena such as inflation or housing.

The economic context of a conspiracy theory

Hyperinflation and the housing crisis are real problems, but blaming them on a demographic conspiracy is a logical leap that does not stand up to analysis. Data from INE (Spain's national statistics institute) show that immigration responds to labour factors and an ageing population, not to a replacement plan. However, the "programmed extinction" narrative has a powerful emotional appeal.

Some comments mention "the beaches of Normandy" or the Spanish Civil War as examples of betrayal of ideals. But the economy is not explained with slogans, but with data on productivity, the public deficit and interest rates.

The figure that upends the narrative

Despite the belief in an imminent replacement, the birth rate in Spain remains low across all groups, and the labour market integration of migrants has not structurally altered the market. The real problem is the lack of affordable housing and wage insecurity, not a plot.