Join us for this workshop, where we will explore how far-right actors shape political and public discourse and how civic actors respond through inclusive, bottom-up strategies. Accompanied by scholars and activists, we aim to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue exploring the different dynamics of far-right mobilization, the threats they impose on contemporary democracies, and possibilities for democratic resistance. We particularly focus on digital spaces, transnational networks, and institutional politics. The workshop consists of two interconnected panel discussions, followed by an interactive and creative summary together. This workshop is the final output of the research-based teaching seminar “Mapping the Global Far Right: Analytical Approaches and Case Studies”.

Workshop Program

1:45pm Opening

2:00pm Welcoming Statement (by Gisella Martínez Pertuz and Birta Brynjarsdottir)

2:15 – 3:45 pm Panel Discussion “Polarized Democracy: Far Right Digital Mobilization vs. Collective Bottom-Up Resistance”

Presentations by student research groups (Online Mobilization of the Far Right and Resisting the Far Right)

Comments by: Mariana Martinez Prozillo and Belén Díaz

Moderated Discussion by: Emmy Stachelscheid and Carter Deane

This panel examines the intense political polarization by contrasting two opposing forces in Brazil and Germany: the digital mobilization of the far right and the collective bottom-up resistance of civic actors. By analyzing these opposites, the session provides a comprehensive look at how democratic norms are both challenged and defended in the digital and physical spheres. The first study analyzes the communication strategies of Brazilian right-wing influencers during political crises, specifically following Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction. It reveals how these actors create an interconnected digital ecosystem to frame judicial actions as political persecution, transforming political figures into “moral martyrs” through stylized aesthetics and religious symbolism. In sharp contrast, the second study explores how diverse civic groups in Brazil and Germany organize to counter the far right. It highlights inclusive, intersectional protest practices that bridge gaps in race, class, and gender to reclaim democratic values. Together, these studies illustrate the tension between the delegitimization of institutions and bottom-up inclusive networks. By bridging these two extremes into a single dialogue, the panel facilitates a critical debate on how the interaction between digital hero-victim narratives and grassroots networks shapes the future of democracy in polarized societies.

3:45 – 4:15 pm Coffee and Tea Break

4:15 – 5:45pm Panel Discussion “From NatCon to the European Parliament: How are Transnational Far-Right Actors Reshaping European Discourses?”

Presentations by student research groups (Far-Right Transnational Alliances and Far-Right Discourses on Immigration)

Comments by: Daniel Saldivia Gonzatti and Lina Kreft

Moderated Discussion by: Julia Cardoso Espindola and Zeynep Coskun

As far-right actors increase their influence in public and political spaces worldwide, this panel examines different sites of far-right discursive articulation—the National Conservatism conference (NatCon) and the European Parliament—bridging situated speech acts with longitudinal diffusion and mainstreaming of far-right ideas. The first paper analyses how far-right actors from across the world construct shared discourses on key topics such as gender, migration, religion, and race, while revealing the limits of their convergence. The second paper focuses on the topic of immigration to explore how frames evolve over time and tests whether securitization and criminalization disseminate from far-right parties as part of discursive mainstreaming and agenda-setting dynamics. Bringing together qualitative and quantitative discourse analysis methods, alongside academic and activist perspectives, this panel seeks to enrich the understanding of far-right alliance-building and its institutional impacts.

6:00 – 6:45pmWorkshop: Snacks and Collective Tablecloth

6:45 – 7:00pmConclusion and Gratitude (by Nathan Johnson)