The questionable views we’re talking about here are… Let’s just say we’re not talking about milquetoast stuff like “we should be a bit stricter with immigration” or “lower taxes on the rich”, but views that are far, far outside of the mainstream in most places in the world.
The fact is that a lot of people have always been racist assholes, but now they feel they can say it in public without repercussion.
TBF a lot of people are just utterly stupid and just eat and regurgitate party lines and the American/Western lines in the past two decades have been heavy on the “white nationalist”, racist and hateful stuff. Since they never believed in anything in earnest, they will fall for everything including this “feel good” drug for white folks we call white supremacy. 🤷
There’s also a psychological trap. It doesn’t make falling for it acceptable, but it does make it more understandable.
Humans naturally seek belonging, and almost any group can fulfill that need. Many such groups also use “us vs. them” rhetoric, which can make you feel more special than you actually are. Feeling special is another human need that groups often fulfill. Humans crave direction and purpose, and most groups provide both.
Just look at religious groups, environmentalists, political ideologies, conspiracy nuts and racist to see what I mean.
I think there’s also an issue that many people got radicalized through internet rabbitholes and the like in recent years. I assume you need to already have some compatible views, but there’s a big difference between “a bit racist” and “full on nazi”. It’s a matter of which tendencies get reinforced and what biased information you’re being fed - many of those people who were a bit racist 15 years ago could have went the completely opposite direction if they had been fed different content.