The South European Radical and Extreme Right in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

In recent years, research on the so-called “far right” has expanded substantially, and Southern Europe has also emerged as a key arena for understanding the contemporary trajectories of radical and extreme right actors. Despite this growing attention, an increasing strand of the literature has relied on the umbrella category of the “far right,” often overlooking key distinctions between radical-right and extreme-right actors. This panel starts from the assumption that differentiating between the radical right and the extreme right remains crucial for understanding contemporary political dynamics. Earlier scholarship emphasized important divergences in ideological orientation, democratic commitments, organizational strategies, and modes of mobilization. Radical-right actors typically accept democracy as an idea while challenging liberal democracy, whereas extreme-right actors reject democracy tout court. However, recent research has frequently downplayed these distinctions, raising concerns about conceptual stretching and analytical precision. The panel aims to critically reassess the radical–extreme right distinction, with a particular focus on Southern Europe and comparative perspectives beyond it. Cases from this geographical area provide especially valuable insights due to their diverse historical legacies, patterns of party competition, and trajectories of radical-right and/or extreme-right emergence or consolidation. Contributions including one or more cases from Southern Europe and comparing them with cases from other geographical areas are equally welcome when they enable cross-regional analysis or challenge assumptions derived from other European contexts. We invite papers that engage theoretically and empirically with the internal heterogeneity of the “far right.” Submissions may examine parties, leaders, movements, or voters, and may adopt qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches. Manuscripts addressing both supply-side and demand-side dynamics, as well as the role of media and public discourse, are especially welcome. By bringing together comparative analyses and in-depth case studies, the panel seeks to move beyond one-size-fits-all interpretations of “far-right” politics. More broadly, it aims to contribute to debates on party competition, representation, and democratic resilience by offering a more nuanced understanding of how radical and extreme right actors operate, interact, and evolve within and across political systems. Possible themes include: • Conceptual and theoretical approaches to radical and extreme right differentiation • Comparative and Southern European case studies • Voter behavior and demand-side dynamics • Media representations and public perceptions • Methodological issues of classification and operationalization • Implications for party systems, policy, and democracy

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