Extreme Right Mobilisation in Western Democracies and the Middle East in the Era of Globalisation and Economic Crisis

Abstract

A new wave of mobilisation has recently addressed to Western and Eastern democracies (as the Arab Spring, Indignados in Europe, Occupy Wall Street) in defence of citizens’ rights and social rights, protesting against the weakening of democracy in time of globalisation and economic crises. However, the investigation of these mobilisations has mainly focused on left wing libertarian movements, paying scarce attention to the right or even the extreme right. Yet, in the last two decades, many democracies have witnessed an increase of extreme right mobilisation (a so-called ‘right wing populist wave’) (Art 2011, Minkenberg 2008, Mudde 2007, Norris 2005, Carter 2005): waves of protest and political campaigns initiated by extreme-right parties, extra parliamentary organisations and single activists against the European integration, immigration, the introduction of the Euro, the rising unemployment rate and the relevant traditional parties’ social policies and economic politics. Extreme-right mobilisation is, in fact, not limited to the institutionalised/political arena, but, it can take different forms (including violence), and the use of new technologies. This panel aims to address these issues, looking at the political activism of extreme right actors and the various forms of protest used by the extreme right in Europe, the USA as well as Middle East during recent mobilisations, also considering the presence of right wing conservative groups in the ‘progressive’ protest events quoted above: What are the claims and demand of the extreme right? What are their action repertoire and targets? What are, if any, their relations with the left wing counter movements and how do these relations influence the development of their mobilisation? Particular emphasis will be given to the political activism of the extreme right using the internet and the new social media. Comparative papers are welcome, as well as works triangulating sources and methods of different kinds, both qualitative and quantitative. Of particular interest for this panel are studies that combine different approaches and levels of analysis (macro, meso, micro) to understand right wing mobilisation, taking into account both the context of opportunities and constraints offered to the actors and the characteristics and dynamics of the groups.

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