Over the past two decades, Europe has witnessed a significant rise in extremist narratives, particularly from far-right political and social actors. This surge has transformed the far right into a major political force, with far-right parties securing over 20% of the seats in the 2024 European Parliament elections. Since 2010, far-right parties have also gained governmental power in several European countries, either independently or in coalition with other right-wing or liberal parties.
As part of their work on the ARENAS project, the Work Package 3 team, led by Dr. Steven Forti, has published a report on the Historical Roots of Extremist Narratives. This report delves into the historical roots and evolution of extremist narratives in Europe, spanning from the late 19th century to the present. It includes case studies from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Finland, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. This study is the first step in analysing the current circulation of extremist narratives in the political and media spheres and their impact on European society. The ultimate goal is to develop effective responses and tools to curb the spread of these narratives and promote constructive dialogue among stakeholders.
The report is available to download here
