The Radical Right

Radical right political parties have swept across Europe in recent years, advancing in local and national elections and changing the nature of public debates on immigration, social cohesion and national identity. Though parliamentary manifestations of the radical right are non-violent and operate within the rules of democracy, there remains confusion over the nature of radical right parties and how they relate to phenomena like the extreme right violence that has become apparent across Europe in recent years. The tragic attacks in Norway on 22 July, 2011 drew Europe’s gaze to the dangers of the growing presence of the radical right across Europe and the increasing legitimisation of anti-immigration and anti-Islamic discourses within mainstream European politics. The blurred relationship between violence from the extreme right and broader trends of Islamophobia and anti-immigration sentiment poses several challenges for policy makers seeking to address the increasing risk of violent right-wing extremism.

In 2012, ISD is launching a new programme of work to enhance understanding of the threat from the radical right, and help policy makers to develop effective responses to these violent and non-violent movements.