The Transnationalization of the Far Right (Frames, Networks and Practices): Observations on Mechanisms and Pathways

This paper focuses on the 'counter-movements' of those actors struggling in and for democracy, and reflects analytically on some of their recent developments. The transnationalisation of illiberal and far-right parties and social movements is now increasingly evident, globally. Not only are they developing transnational networks, but thanks to the increasing use of the internet and social media platforms, their ideas are also spreading across borders. Anti-immigrant and anti-gender actors, as well as those mobilising around various crises, in particular the Covid-19 pandemic, are now gathering at international events, which supports the diffusion of frames and strategies and contributes to international learning among these regressive forces. While there is a growing literature on different types of actors and their transnationalisation, research has tended to specialise in particular 'sub-sectors' of the far right, for example only dealing with anti-immigrant or anti-gender actors, and focusing either on political parties or social movements. Our research, conducted as part of the AUTHLIB (Neo-authoritarinisms in Europe and the Liberal Democratic Response) project, seeks to bring together these different strands of analysis to understand the differences and similarities that characterise their transnational spread in terms of framing strategy, organisational contacts and networks, and mobilisation events. Drawing on a social movement approach to the far right - something that is still rarely done - this paper will therefore seek to develop a theoretical argument to explain the mechanisms, channels and processes of transnationalisation of illiberal and far right actors and ideas, focusing on different case studies. This is particularly relevant to the current debate on democratic backsliding: how can (regressive-reactionary) social movements undermine democratic self defence through their transnationalisation and diffusion?