The transnationalization of the extreme right in Europe: links, identity and mobilization

In this paper, we will investigate the transnationalization of the extreme right (both political parties and social movements), namely the development of transnational organizations, identities and strategies of actions among these political actors. Like its counterpart on the Left (i.e. left-wing progressive movements), the extreme right is increasingly expanding beyond national borders (Europol 2020), creating cross-national links and international cooperation, collective identities and issues of mobilization, events and practices. However, to date, empirical research on this topic is still scarce and fragmented. The extreme right responses to processes of transnationalization (whose European integration can be considered a regional case) are still understudied, although instances of transnationalization are evident: development of positive ‘European identities’ (Caiani and Weisskircher 2022), organizing into transnational networks (Nissen 2022); the increasing usage of the Internet and social media (Heft et al. 2019). These developments have been based on utilizing the opportunities offered by the refugee crisis (2015-2016), such as in the case of Pegida, as well as the subsequent pandemic crisis (2020-2022) and climate crisis (Nam 2020). Although protest mobilization of some of these right-wing movements has significantly decreased since their peaks, in recent years, researchers have noted its persistence in a novel form of symbolic performances (Volk 2022). Furthermore, internationalization processes are indicated by several scholars as an important explanation for the recent dynamism of right-wing extremism in many Western and Eastern European democracies as a reaction against post-materialism and “anti-modernity/globalization” mobilization. In this paper, we will aim to answer the following questions: To what extent is the contemporary extreme right broadening the scope of its international cooperation, widening the breadth of its allies and contacts? Moreover, to what extent is it intensifying its relationship, deepening transnationalization in terms of long-term political strategy and shared identities?