Parties and Movements
Assessing the causes and consequences of far-right mobilization, including its impact through political parties and social movements across Europe.
Far-right parties and movements
The far right is a key political actor in European politics and beyond, encompassing both electoral-focused parties and protest-oriented movements. European far-right parties like National Rally in France, the Austrian Freedom Party, and the Sweden Democrats have become substantial political forces domestically and internationally, often securing between 15 and 30 percent of the popular vote and participating as junior partners in coalition governments.
Simultaneously, successful far-right street movements such as Pegida in Germany and the English Defense League in the UK are emerging alongside transnational anti-Islam networks and intellectual-activist groups like the Identitarian movement. While these movements are often less institutionalized than parties, they still play significant roles in agenda-setting and ideological diffusion, with some even engaging in violent actions or contributing to cumulative extremism.
Scholars at C-REX dive deep into the dynamics of these parties and movements, analyzing them from diverse perspectives using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Key questions
- What are the ideologies driving contemporary far-right parties and movements?
- What factors contribute to their success or failure?
- Why do individuals choose to join far-right parties and groups?
- How do far-right organizations affect political systems, policies, public debates, and individual political preferences?