Online event organized by DeZIM: April 3, 2025 , 4-5pm CET
Register here: https://dezim.limequery.com/988169?lang=de
The resurgence of far-right movements across Europe has intensified in the wake of populist successes in the United States. Across Europe, far-right movements are capitalizing on shifting geopolitical dynamics, media deregulation, and technological disruptions to challenge democratic institutions.
This panel brings together experts from Europe and the U.S. to explore how Trump’s second term is reshaping far-right politics transatlantically, the role of digital platforms in amplifying far-right movements, and the broader implications for European democracy. Drawing on comparative political analysis, we assess how far-right movements leverage digital media, cultural anxieties, and economic grievances to undermine liberal democracy.
Key themes include the erosion of trust in democratic institutions, the spread of U.S.-style culture wars in Europe, and the extent to which figures like Musk facilitate or constrain far-right mobilization. The discussion will also explore potential counter-strategies—ranging from institutional reforms to media policies and grassroots mobilization—that could bolster democratic resilience.
This session is jointly organized with the Research Network RC 47 (Social Movements and Social Classes) and RC48 (Social Movements, Collective Action and Social Change) of the International Sociological Association, the “Radicalism and Violence” Research Networks des Council for European Studies (CES) and the New Far-Right Global Research Network. The event will take place at DeZIM Institute Berlin as part of a spring school on countering the far-right.
Speakers
- Emanuele Toscano (Marconi University)
- Camilo Tamayo Gomez (president of RC48, University of Huddersfield (UK)
- Ignacia Perugorria Frattini (researcher Basque Country University)
- Pasha Dashtgard (American University and PERIL)
- Fabian Virchow (Verbund der Forschungszentren für Rechtsextremismus- und Demokratieforschung, Hochschule Düsseldorf)
Key Discussion Questions:
Transatlantic Influence: What are the key similarities and differences between far-right movements in the U.S. and Europe? How does transatlantic coordination between these groups function in practice?
Trump’s Second Term and the Far-Right in Europe: How is Trump’s return to power affecting far-right strategies and narratives in Europe? Are European populists adapting U.S. culture war tactics more aggressively?
Musk and the Political Landscape: To what extent has Elon Musk’s control over social media platforms altered the information ecosystem for far-right movements? Has it strengthened their mobilization or introduced new vulnerabilities?
Democratic Institutions Under Pressure: How are European institutions, including the EU, responding to the spread of far-right influence? Are current measures—such as media regulations and legal frameworks—sufficient?
