The CuCo Lab is pleased to invite you to this month’s lab talk by Léonie de Jonge (Groningen, soon to be Tübingen). Léonie is an expert on right-wing politics in the BeNeLux countries and beyond, and she will discuss this topic from an overarching perspective of narratives and ideologies and their discursive normalisation in the 21st century. We’re looking forward to welcoming you to this event on site and online.
Abstract
The far right has emerged as a significant force in global politics, gaining momentum and support in the streets and institutions worldwide. Once relegated to the fringes, far-right ideologies have increasingly been incorporated into mainstream political discourse, thereby contributing to their normalisation. As a result, the issues at the core of their ideology are no longer exclusively owned by far-right actors; indeed, nativism, authoritarianism and populism now feature in the discourses of ‘mainstream’ politicians. Historically, the far right was often portrayed as a mono-thematic movement that focused exclusively on immigration. However, a key characteristic of the latest wave of far-right parties and movements is their development of coherent policy agendas that extend beyond immigration to include a wide range of issues, such as security, foreign policy, environmental issues, and even food policy, where discussions around agricultural practices have raised alarms about the consumption of insects. Drawing on examples from across the European continent, this talk will explore the defining characteristics of the contemporary far right, examining how these ideologies manifest in today’s political landscape. The main argument is that while the expressions of far-right ideologies may have evolved, their underlying ideas and principles remain fundamentally unchanged. By tracing this trajectory and decoding its manifestations, we can better understand the implications for both political engagement and societal discourse in the 21st century.
Organisation/contact: Culture & Computation Lab / cucolab@uni.lu.
Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash