Sociologický časopis / Czech Sociological Review | DOI: 10.13060/csr.2026.015

Two Factions of Sovereign Citizen Movements in Czechia: Conception of Sovereignty, Ideology, and Political Strategy

Aleš Michal ORCID...

Institut politologických studií, Fakulta sociálních věd UK, Praha

The sovereign citizens movement that originated in the United States is one of the key threats to contemporary liberal democracy. Recent violent acts committed by the German Reichsbürger movement demonstrated that the ideas of the sovereign citizens movement are rapidly spreading across Europe through social media. The movement is generally associated with extreme-right ideological frameworks and a specific strategy known as ‘paper terrorism’. Through an analysis of diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational frames, we confront findings on existing movements with the reality of two such cases operating in the Czech Republic: the Legitimate Creditors of the Czech Republic and a group formed around two extreme-right influencers. Our analysis reveals that the core idea behind these movements is the same as that in other countries, as it is rooted in the delegitimisation of the state. However, the two groups differ from each other in their arguments and strategies. While the Legitimate Creditors operate primarily in the virtual sphere, which limits their mobilisation capacity, the group centred on the two influencers articulates a clearer vision of alternative legitimacy and political action. Both movements, however, share a common opposition to the judicial authorities, through which they wage a struggle against the state.

Keywords: sovereign citizens, extreme right, sovereignty, political violence, paper terrorism

Received: August 20, 2024; Revised: April 17, 2026; Accepted: April 20, 2026; Prepublished online: May 20, 2026