To join or not to join: An analysis of individuals’ motivations for joining (or not) radical right groups

Over the past two decades, radical groups on the right of the political spectrum have become more prominent in liberal democracies. Although often described as “the multiculturalist unicorn”, Canada is no exception to this dynamic. Various radical right groups have recently emerged, and their actions have gained visibility. How can we make sense of individuals’ motivations to join these groups? Drawing on semi-structured interviews with formal members and sympathizers of the radical right group La Meute (in English, The Wolfpack), this study investigates a classical question in the field of social movements studies: what does it take for individuals to move “from the balcony to the barricades”? More specifically, it explores why some individuals join radical right groups, while others – despite sharing similar concerns over immigration-related issues – do not. The analysis highlights that, while both members and sympathizers of La Meute adhere to the perceived problems (e.g., immigration, multiculturalism) and proposed solutions (e.g., restricting immigration, assimilation) put forward by the group, only members of La Meute identify with the group’s collective identity. Sympathizers of La Meute, for their part, perceive that the group’s identity and protest actions do not reflect who they are, what they believe and what they are comfortable with. Moreover, in their eyes, the problems and solutions identified by La Meute do not outweigh the potential costs of joining the group: these individuals fear being judged and stigmatized because of the group’s negative reputation.