One of the key developments in contemporary European and global politics is the emergence and persistence of far-right political parties and social movement organizations whose ideologies challenge political systems in reactionary ways. These movements seek to undermine democratic norms and restructure societies around exclusionary, often authoritarian principles. The aim of this conference is to reflect upon some of the more unpredictable issues in this process.
Context and Structural Changes
Structural changes within European democracies—such as the transfer of political power and decision-making authority away from nation-states to international organizations like the European Union—have significantly reshaped traditional representative politics. These changes have disrupted long-standing electoral alignments and fostered a sense of disenfranchisement among significant portions of the population. This shifting landscape has contributed to a growing sense of political alienation and dissatisfaction, making fertile ground for the rise of far-right movements that frame themselves as defenders of national sovereignty, tradition, “right” values and cultural homogeneity.
However, far-right politics are symptomatic of a broader malaise, marked by disillusionment with mainstream political parties, fears surrounding globalization, and declining trust in government institutions. These processes are compounded by the increasing use of digital platforms, which have allowed for the rapid dissemination of extremist ideas and provided far-right groups with unprecedented access to a global audience.
The Global Comeback of the Right
The political events of 2016, including Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, were initially seen by many as anomalies. However, they have since been recognized as part of a much longer global resurgence of the far right—an ideological and political comeback decades in the making. Countries such as Russia, Hungary, Brazil, Poland, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, the United States, and the UK have seen the re-emergence of right-wing groups capable of destabilizing democratic norms, often through the use of digital media and populist rhetoric.
What was unimaginable in the immediate post-war period, or even after the fall of the Berlin Wall, is now a political reality: a loosely connected but globally resonant far-right movement, challenging the very foundations of liberal democracy. New expressions of the extreme right have taken over, questioning what until a few decades ago was a general consensus on gender diversity, the fight against inequality, environmentalism, and the welfare state.
Cultural Backlash and the Intellectual Enemy
This new Far Right is marked by a strong cultural backlash, framed as a war against a vaguely defined intellectual and cultural Left. The idea of “political correctness” and “cultural Marxism” has been effectively weaponized by far-right leaders such as Viktor Orbán, Geert Wilders, Javier Milei, Narendra Modi, Marine Le Pen, Éric Zemmour, Santiago Abascal, Georgia Meloni, and Donald Trump. These leaders present themselves as defenders of “traditional values” and position the Left as responsible for social and moral decay. Concepts such as feminism, queer theory, postmodernism, as well as racial justice movements are portrayed as existential threats to the social fabric, driving reactionary politics in an increasingly polarized world. These campaigns and speeches are usually endorsed and legitimated by the online activism of creators and influencers like Andrew Tate, Jordan B. Peterson, Ben Shapiro or Tucker Carlson, and social media moguls such as Elon Musk, among many others.
Conference Focus and Objectives
Sponsored by the Research Committee on Social Movements, Collective Action, and Social Change (RC48) of the International Sociological Association (ISA), in collaboration with the Collective Identity Research Center (CEIC) at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), the University of Huddersfield, Liverpool Hope University, Maynooth University, and the research project Socio-Ecos [PID2021-126611NB-I00] funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MINECO), this conference aims to explore the origins, ideologies, and mobilization strategies of the global Far Right.
The conference will critically investigate the movement’s rapid growth, with a focus on key themes such as “cultural Marxism” as a conspiracy theory, the role of digital media in spreading far-right ideology, and the movement’s opposition to globalism. The conference’s aim is to foster interdisciplinary, novel, non-conventional and original scholarship on the transnational Far Right, in its multiple expressions. It will provide a platform to present innovative perspectives across disciplinary boundaries. By engaging with these diverse angles, the conference aims to deepen our understanding of how far-right movements coalesce and threaten democratic institutions globally.
Key Themes and Sociological Connections
- Global and National Variations of the Far Right: What are the specific features of far-right movements in different national contexts? How do cultural, historical, and political traditions influence the rhetoric and goals of these movements? These questions invite the analysis of both national-specific dynamics and the ways far-right movements draw upon shared international symbols, repertoires and narratives.
- Ideological Roots and Theoretical Borrowing: Many of the intellectual underpinnings of the Far Right, surprisingly, borrow liberally from Marxist and mystic traditions. This paradox invites deeper inquiry into why and how these appropriations occur. The conference will explore the ideological undercurrents that blend conservatism, nationalism, and anti-globalization with these more eclectic influences.
- The Role of Digital Media: The rise of far-right movements in the digital age raises crucial sociological questions about the ways in which media representation, networked communication, and digital platforms facilitate the spread of extremist ideas. What role does digital media play in amplifying fringe ideas and transforming them into mainstream political discourses? How has the internet enabled the Far Right to gain public legitimacy and political power?
- The “Right Against Rights:” Far-right movements often position themselves as anti-rights movements, opposing the expansion of civil liberties, especially in relation to gender, race, and immigration. This has led to a rollback of human rights in various contexts. The conference will explore the ways these movements oppose progressive legal frameworks and attempt to reshape society based on exclusionary principles.
- Climate change denialism: Climate change denialism has become a core narrative within the ‘new Far Right,’ intertwining anti-scientific rhetoric, globalist conspiracies, and nationalist agendas. How do far-right movements mobilize climate skepticism to reject scientific consensus, reframe ecological issues as political battlegrounds, and challenge environmental policies? We seek contributions that examine the socio-political drivers of this denialism and so-called ‘ecofascism’, and their intersections with identity, economic insecurities, and environmental justice.
- Cultural-Political Urgency and Scholarly Responsibility: In this context of resurgent far-right politics, what are today’s most urgent cultural and political challenges? What roles should humanists, sociologists, political scientists, and historians play in resisting this rising tide of authoritarianism? The workshop seeks to foster a dialogue on the intellectual and practical interventions necessary to combat far-right ideologies.
Important Dates
| Task | Date |
| Deadline for submission of abstracts | November 30, 2024 |
| Conference program sent to participants | December 15, 2024 |
| Guidelines for oral presentations | January 10, 2025 |
| Conference dates | January 23-24, 2025 |
Abstracts
Abstracts (<500 words) must include the main features of the presentation, and should be sent on or before November 30, 2024 to newfarrights@gmail.com
Official Language and Oral Presentations
English is the conference’s official language. Abstracts and oral presentations should thus be prepared in English. Final instructions for oral presentations detailing time slots and available resources will be sent out on January 10, 2025.
Venue
The conference will take place at the Bizkaia Aretoa building of the University of the Basque Country, a 5-minute walk from the Guggenheim Museum in downtown Bilbao. For a virtual tour of the Bizkaia Aretoa building, click here. For info on how to get there, click here.
Organizing Committee
- Benjamín TEJERINA, University of the Basque Country, Spain
- Camilo TAMAYO GOMEZ, University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom
- Gavin HART, Liverpool Hope University, United Kingdom
- Ignacia PERUGORRÍA, University of the Basque Country, Spain
- Joseba GARCÍA MARTÍN, University of the Basque Country, Spain & Maynooth University, Ireland