As the contemporary far right has moved from the margins to the mainstream, nativist and exclusionary protest movements have gained significant global relevance. This transformation is marked by two major trends. First, far-right politics increasingly intertwine electoral mobilization with street protest, as seen in the storming of the US Capitol in 2021 and Brazil’s Congress in 2023. These dynamics reflect broader attempts to reshape civil society, where polarization around minority rights and civil liberties accompanies the erosion of democratic norms and processes. Second, far-right activism has moved beyond traditional anti-immigration and Islamophobic themes, adopting more transnational tactics and narratives. This is evident in the ‘culture wars’ waged by far-right actors against LGBTQ+ rights or campaigns targeting academic institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic further catalyzed regressive action, with significant anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine movements worldwide.
A key driver of these developments is the strategic adoption of digital practices that amplify far-right messages within hybrid media systems. Far-right actors, often using populist framing, leverage digital platforms and legacy media to challenge mainstream narratives and secure disproportionate coverage. Social media affordances enable polarization entrepreneurs—including parties, movements, and leaders—to deploy framing strategies that tap into dissatisfaction with democracy, exploit grievances, and promote exclusionary identities. Their communication often relies on incivility, intolerance, and populist rhetoric, fueling division and hostility in public discourse. Moreover, manipulative strategies (e.g., disinformation, trolling, coordinated manipulation) further polarize online discussions around issues like climate change, migration, and international conflicts. Platforms like TikTok, Twitter/X, Telegram, and YouTube serve as both enablers of far-right communication and contested arenas where meaning is negotiated and reshaped.
This panel brings together established and early-career scholars to examine the drivers, mechanisms, and consequences of far-right protest dynamics and discursive polarization. It addresses three themes: (1) the macro-, meso-, and micro-level causes of far-right mobilization and polarization; (2) the interplay between street activism, electoral politics, digital communication practices, and media ecosystems; and (3) the outcomes for public opinion, civic engagement, agenda-setting, and policy. Contributions employ diverse methodologies—including network and content analysis, case studies, and natural experiments—and offer comparative insights from East Asia, Europe, and North America.