Trans-national diffusion patterns and the future of far right party research: Independence vs. interdependence

Abstract

An extensive literature deals with the socio-political and electoral factors that inspire and explain far right party development. Very often in this discussion, far right parties (FRPs) are hypothesised as independent entities that do not have an influence on -or are influenced by -other far right parties. This critical reflection challenges that assumption and suggests that trans-national diffusion patterns between far right parties are not only underdeveloped in existing explanations of far right development, but are also critical for an improved and more complete understanding of the far right party phenomenon as a whole. In an initial discussion of diffusion, this particular article emphasises its prominence as an explanatory factor of far party development and reflects in more detail upon its role, extent and scope. On a more normative note, a more comprehensive and accurate explanatory model of far right party development could prove to be useful to anticipate future societal evolutions and political developments.

Europe as ideological resource: the case of the Rassemblement National

“…Given the RN's central place in the far right party family, its historical influence on other members of the far right (Rydgren 2007, Van Hauwaert 2014 and its growing focus on issues of European integration (Vasilopoulou 2018b) it was considered to be a particularly relevant case to study. In addition, because the RN is a party that has placed an important weight on using acceptable language in the political battle (Camus 2015: 108-110), and whose members have acknowledged that the EU helped it construct legitimacy (Reungoat 2014: 130, 134), it is the most likely to have deliberately taken advantage of Europe as an ideological resource.…”

“…This argument is illustrated through a case study of key aspects of the Rassemblement National's (RN) ideological approach to the EU. The RN's historical influence on other far right parties (Rydgren 2007, Van Hauwaert 2014, its growing focus on issues of European integration (Vasilopoulou 2018b) and its marked concern with making an appropriate use of language (Camus 2015: 108-110) make it a compelling example for the article's core argument. Drawing on an in-depth interpretive analysis of party documents produced between 1978 and 2018, the article shows how two of the party's claims helped it address key criticisms moved against it: first, its assertion to be European and defend Europe from the EU; second, its appropriation of positively valued concepts such as sovereignty, autonomy and self-rule to oppose the EU.…”

Radical right politics in East and West: Distinctive yet equivalent

“…Further research is also needed on the diffusion of “master frames” between different RR actors across particular countries (Mudde, , p. 612). A comparative East–West perspective drawn here is pertinent for revisiting this original “transnational” (van Hauwaert, ) focus on RR frame diffusion (Rydgren, ). Not only is it important to observe whether and to which extent CEE actors adopt RR narratives from “the West.” It seems even more interesting to analyse whether and how RR “master frames” of established CEE actors bestowed with legitimacy by their position in national office and/or supranational mainstream party group affiliation diffuse into RR politics in the West (cf.…”