Anders Behring Breivik has no coherent ideology. Instead he appears to have picked bits of numerous rightwing philosophical strands and attempted to weave them together and present them as his own.

Breivik comes from a culturally conservative Christian background, and this has shaped much of his political outlook. Into this he has incorporated more traditional nationalist and racist ideologies and adopted the politics and language of the "counter-Jihad" movement which believes Islam is a major threat to western civilisation.

Immigration and multiculturalism are seen as the Trojan horses through which Islam is gaining a foothold in the west, and in targeting government buildings and the youth wing of Norway's ruling Labour Party he was attacking those who he blamed for the rise of Islam.

Of Breivik's 1,500-page manifesto, 375 pages were comprised of quotes from other people. Of these, half were from just one man, Peder Nøstvold Jensen, better known by his blogging name Fjordman. Jensen is one of the most important figures in the "counter-Jihad" movement.

Breivik is many things but he is not a neo-Nazi. Rather, his views and actions reflect the changing face of the modern far right, which sees Islam as the main enemy.

Like many recent far-right activists he has drawn inspiration from the Serbian conflict and particularly the activities of the Serb paramilitary groups the White Eagles and the Tigers.

I do not believe Breivik's Knights Templars exist. Perhaps he got the idea from Paul Ray, one of the founders of the English Defence League, who claims to run the Ancient Order of the Templar Knights. Or from Swedish author Jan Guillou, who created the character Commander Hamilton and his books about the Templar knight Arn, who kills out of necessity "for king or country".

Breivik's political rantings reflect a life of fantasy. From dressing up in uniforms to falsifying certificates, here was a man always desperate to be somebody else. Through racist and anti-Muslim ideology he attempted to transform himself into a superhero out to save the world. In this he differed little from David Copeland, the London nailbomber who likewise thought his actions would lead to the salvation of the white race.

• Nick Lowles is director of Hope Not Hate