Extreme Right Transnational: Towards a New Post-War History

For a long time, historians showed limited interest in studying the history of the extreme right after 1945. In recent years, however, research on this topic has grown significantly. The rise of extreme-right movements and political parties has spurred numerous research projects, especially in Germany. These projects explore not only the aftermath of National Socialism, but also the emergence of a so-called New Right within democratic societies. Similar research initiatives have also gained momentum in countries such as France, Italy, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, reflecting the growing influence of the extreme right across Europe. Despite these shared research interests, collaboration between German-speaking scholars and their European colleagues remains sporadic and limited to occasional projects. Against this backdrop, the conference aims to provide a new impetus for fostering closer cooperation and exchange between researchers and projects in Europe and beyond.

The conference will examine the transnational dimensions and dynamics of the extreme right after 1945 from an actor-centred perspective. It will explore cross-border networks and contacts, the circulation of media products and the exchange of ideas and thoughts, aesthetics and lifestyles, mobilisation strategies and organisational forms. For instance, as early as 1951, right-wing extremists attempted to form new networks at the so-called Malmö Conference. At the same time, media outlets such as “Nation Europa” were founded to promote far-right visions of Europe. The conference will also consider more recent developments, such as the transnational organisational structures of the so-called New Right or the new global networking opportunities for the extreme right that have emerged with the rise of the internet.

While research on the transnational dimensions of the extreme right has grown significantly in recent years, most studies remain focused on actors from larger Western European countries such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. This conference seeks to expand the scope of inquiry by bringing together scholars from diverse regions of Europe, including Southern, Eastern, and Northern Europe. The objective is to examine lesser-known networks and channels of exchange that, despite their relative obscurity, have had a lasting impact on society. Additionally, the conference aims to highlight the role of Swiss actors within the extreme right, thereby increasing their visibility in scholarly discourse.

See the programme and the public keynote speech: https://events.unifr.ch/transnational2025/en/programme/programme.html