The ARENAS project continues its valuable work in analysing extremist narratives across Europe and developing strategies to counter those narratives. Through a series of high-profile interviews in Spanish, Italian and French media, ARENAS researchers have brought critical insights into how far-right ideologies are evolving—and infiltrating the mainstream.
In El Periódico de Catalunya, historian Steven Forti warned about the normalisation of the term “reemigration,” a euphemism used by far-right parties like Vox to justify the expulsion of immigrants. “It is a concept that comes from the most radical far right and that Vox has now incorporated into its discourse,” Forti explained, adding that this shift reflects a broader European trend of adopting exclusionary rhetoric under the guise of legality and order.
Meanwhile, in eldiario.es, Sergi Soler explored how far-right parties weaponise the idea of “protecting children” to promote anti-LGBTQ+ narratives. “The defence of childhood has become a pretext to attack the rights of the LGBT community,” he noted, highlighting how this tactic stokes moral panic and legitimises homophobia.
Steven Forti was also recently interviewed by Radio3 Mondo, Italy’s leading national radio program focused on international politics, to discuss the alarming raids targeting migrants in Torre Pacheco, Spain. These incidents, fueled by far-right groups and amplified through coordinated online hate campaigns, have raised serious concerns about xenophobia and digital incitement. The episode is available to listen to here
In another eldiario.es feature, Soler and political psychologist Clara Pretus examined how extremist ideas are being mainstreamed. “The far right no longer needs to shout to be heard; now their ideas slip into the public debate with an apparently moderate tone, but deeply authoritarian.”
Steven Forti also spoke with the online magazine CTXT about the global democratic backslide. “Less than 30% of the world’s population lives in democratic systems. Two decades ago, it was more than 50%”, he stated, emphasising the rise of “electoral autocracies” where democratic institutions exist in name only.
In a powerful interview with Europa Press, Forti warned of the far right’s calculated cultural strategy: “The far right has understood that culture wars are an effective tool to shape the media agenda and maintain political initiative.” He described how identity issues—immigration, gender, LGBTQ+ rights—are being used to polarise societies and shift the Overton window. “What was once unthinkable is now openly debated.”
Finally, the French journal L’Express featured Sergi Soler in a piece on the international circulation of extremist narratives. The article highlighted how far-right actors in Spain are increasingly connected to transnational networks. “The radicalization of the public opinion is fruit of the generalized disinformation in social media, with the novelty that these narratives are endorsed by radical groups with international links” Soler noted, pointing to the cross-border flow of radical content and strategies.
These interviews underscore the ARENAS project’s vital role in exposing how extremist narratives are reshaped, repackaged, and reintroduced into public discourse. By engaging with mainstream media, the ARENAS team is not only informing the public but also working to equip civil society with the tools to resist democratic erosion.
