Defying the Mainstream. The Platform Telegram as a Digital Abeyance Structure for the German Far Right

There is striking evidence that the far right is moving from the fringes of society into the mainstream, in electoral, communicative and cultural terms. During periods of growth, social and political movements attempt to align their demands with perceived public opinion, positioning themselves as the voice of the people. At the same time, ideological debate is needed in the shadow of the mainstream, providing free spaces in which to cultivate a collective identity (Futrell and Simi, 2004). Alt-tech platforms have played a key role in providing such spaces for interpersonal exchange and political mobilisation (Donovan et al., 2019). Following the remigration of a number of malicious actors to the digital mainstream, the importance of alternative digital spaces has been called into question. However, the far right has learned to maintain these spaces and networks as backup structures. In the German context, the platform Telegram has become an organisational backbone for far-right activism and remains an important space for gaining recognition in far-right circles. This paper aims to understand the role of the platform in far-right activism in relation to the changing nature of interaction between far-right actors and the possibilities offered by digital communication. Based on an analysis of around 2,000 Telegram channels and 28.9 million messages over three years gathered by the Machine Against the Rage project, this paper examines: (1) the activity of various German far-right groups (from neo-Nazis and extreme right media outlets to souvereign citizens); (2) the effect of political events on the popularity of the platform; and (3) shifts in networking and topics. Considering Telegram as a vital abeyance structure (Taylor, 1989), this paper argues that the mainstreaming of the far right is accompanied by an ideological and organisational hardening on the fringe, which is best understood in terms of its interrelationship.