An analysis of young radical right activists

With the increasing popularity of the radical right, much research has tried to explain the motives of voters. Less attention has been paid to the motives of people to become radical right activists – specifically young people, a group with a high tendency to join right-wing parties.

Within the context of the internationalisation of the radical right, this research draws on 28 narrative interviews conducted between 2019 and 2021 with young radical right activists in Poland and Germany, two countries with considerably different political and discursive opportunity structures.

Impact

• Knowledge discovery: explored the nuances of the experiences of young people who are active in far-right politics.

Key information

• Major funders: Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation
• Partners and collaborators: Dr Justyna Kajta (Institute of Social Sciences, SWPS University), Dr Janina Myrczik (Medical School Berlin)
• Disciplines: politics, social studies
• Investigators: Professor Vera Trappmann.

Keywords: nationalism, radical right, youth activism, poland, germany, europe, alt-right, politics, elections, conservatives, employment, authoritarian, racism, voting, far-right attitudes, crisis, ideology, unemployment, populism, extreme right