Nationalism, Narratives, Normalisation – The Impact of Radical and Extreme Right Parties in Parliaments and Beyond

Abstract

Radical and extreme right parties have gained significant traction across Europe and beyond. Their growing parliamentary presence and visibility in public debates reshape political landscapes and challenge democratic norms. Beyond electoral success, these parties influence the fabric of political discourse—shifting narratives on freedom, immigration, gender equality, identity, national sovereignty, and economic protectionism. This panel examines the mechanisms through which radical and extreme right parties normalise previously marginal ideas and transform institutional and societal dynamics. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses are welcome, drawing on a variety of sources including speeches, manifestos, social media data, interviews, and surveys. Against this backdrop, we invite contributions addressing the discursive, institutional, and societal impacts of these parties. Possible themes include: (1) shifts in parliamentary discourse and their spillover into public debate; (2) interactions between radical and extreme right parties and legislative or executive institutions; (3) transformations of political norms and deliberative styles; (4) consequences for public opinion, minority representation, and political participation. Comparative perspectives on the strategies, narratives, and policy eNects of these parties across diNerent national contexts are particularly welcome. The panel also encourages theoretical engagements with concepts such as normalisation, mainstreaming, discursive opportunity structures, and democratic backsliding. We welcome interdisciplinary approaches that examine not only electoral trends but also the cultural, social, and economic ramifications of radical and extreme right party governance and opposition. We are particularly interested in perspectives on Europe and the United States, with a special focus on Central and Eastern Europe and beyond. Given its broad conceptual and methodological scope, the panel seeks to advance our understanding of how radical and extreme right parties shape the development of liberal democracies. We invite researchers at all career stages and particularly welcome submissions from doctoral students and early career researchers (ECRs).

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