Studying the far right: How can institutions better support their researchers?

Researching the far right carries safety and emotional risks. Scholars in this field often navigate potentially unsafe or uncomfortable environments, face an emotional toll when exposed to far-right ideology, or risk facing backlash from far-right actors, either during the research process or after the publication of their findings or media appearances. However, ethics guidelines are often inadequate in preparing them for these risks, and when researchers find themselves vulnerable, they often lack institutional support to address or cope with these challenges. Indeed, recent studies point to the lack of guidance, training, and support provided for researchers on extremism. While some of these issues may relate to the lack of institutional awareness of the specific risks inherent in researching distasteful and potentially dangerous populations, in institutions dedicated specifically to extremism research, scholars’ experiences have prompted more awareness of these challenges and institutional responses to them. Drawing on interviews with research institutions that have developed guidelines and protocols to both prevent and respond to the harms, threats and harassment of scholars, this paper outlines good practices of care. As a result, it aims to stimulate a much-needed discussion on institutional support, or lack thereof, for researchers.