Transnational Mobilisation and the Structural Limits of Far-Right Support in the Romanian Diaspora

With the enfranchisement of diaspora voters and the increasing relevance of transnational political mobilisation, radical right parties have sought not only to activate diaspora electorates during elections, but also to sustain political presence within migrant communities over time. Yet we know little about how such parties attempt to embed themselves in the everyday lives of diaspora populations, or how these efforts are perceived by community members. This paper examines how the Romanian far-right party AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) seeks to maintain a continuous presence within Romanian diaspora communities in London. It asks: how are AUR’s mobilisation practices organised, what kinds of narratives and forms of engagement do they rely on, and what does this reveal about the limits and possibilities of radical right mobilisation in diaspora contexts? The paper argues that AUR’s transnational mobilisation is not driven primarily by overt ideological confrontation, but is instead often embedded in relatively depoliticised, everyday forms of interaction—such as community events, mutual aid initiatives, religious or cultural activities, and symbolic appeals to national belonging. These practices lower barriers to participation and allow the party to circulate identity-based and grievance-oriented narratives in subtle ways, blurring the boundary between social engagement and political mobilisation. At the same time, it highlights important limits: while such strategies can sustain visibility and soft support, they do not necessarily translate into durable electoral loyalty or deep organisational consolidation. By focusing on everyday mobilisation and narrative circulation beyond election campaigns, this study contributes to debates on radical right transnationalism, diaspora politics, and the role of narratives in political radicalisation and resilience.