Module description
One of the key developments in contemporary politics is the emergence and persistence of far-right parties whose ideology and agenda seeks to profoundly challenge the political system. Structural changes to European democracies and the transfer of power away from the nation state to international organisations, such as the European Union, have brought about changes in traditional representative politics and patterns of electoral competition. Far right politics are thought to be a symptom of a general feeling of malaise, political dissatisfaction with mainstream political parties, fear of globalisation, weakening electoral alignments, increased anti-government sentiment and protest. This course aims to provide students with a systematic introduction to key academic debates and empirical realities in the comparative analysis of far-right politics. It will primarily draw upon cases from Europe while at the same time develop some comparisons with cases across the world.
The module starts by focusing on far-right parties as actors. It considers their similarities and differences in terms of ideology, policy positions, leadership, campaigning styles, and incorporation of contemporary issues in their agendas. The module proceeds with an analysis of the economic, cultural, political, contextual, and psychological drivers of far-right party support. It further dissects the institutional landscape in which far right parties become successful and have policy impact. Lastly, it provides some comparisons with cases across the globe, e.g., the US, India and Brazil.
Assessment details
One Oral Presentation (15%) and one 3000 Word Essay (85%)
Educational aims & objectives
The aim of this module is for students to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the evolution and contemporary dynamics of far-right politics. Students will learn about the different patterns of far-right party success over time and across country. They will be able to critically engage with the key theories associated with far-right party support and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses against empirical data.
Learning outcomes
By completing this module, students will:
Recognise and summarize fundamental theories related to far-right politics
Evaluate and assess issues relating to the ideology, policy positions, electoral campaigning of far-right parties.
Critically assess different models of far-right party voting.
Analyse the dynamics of electoral behaviour and party competition particularly juxtaposing Eastern to Western European countries.
This module will also equip students with a range of key transferable skills, including the ability to:
Critically assess what type of information is needed to construct an argument.
Show independent research skills and evaluate the appropriateness of different research methods in the study of far-right politics.
Write essays that reflect a critical engagement with the literature and the empirical evidence.
Work individually and as part of a team.
Improve their communication skills by participating in class discussions and giving oral presentations.
Teaching pattern
Two hours per week, one lecture and one seminar
Suggested reading list
Key academic sources
Golder, M. (2016) Far right parties in Europe. Annual Review of Political Science. 19: 477-97.
Mudde, C. (2019) The Far right today. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Norris, P. (2005) Radical right: voters and parties in the electoral market, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Rydgren, J. (2018) The Oxford Handbook of the Radical right. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Key think-tank resources
Charalambous, Giorgos (ed.) (2015) The European Far Right: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives, PRIO Cyprus Centre Report, 2. Cyprus: PRIO Cyprus Centre.
Halikiopoulou, D. and Vlandas, T. (2022) Understanding right-wing populism and what to do about it. FES , Vienna. ISBN: 9783986281564
Melzer, Ralf; Serafin, Sebastian (2013) Right-wing extremism in Europe. Country Analyses, Counter-Strategies and Labor-Market Oriented Exit Strategies Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Forum Berlin.
Blogs and podcasts