The Effects of Far-Right Challenges on International Organizations

Introduction

The rise of the far right poses a profound challenge to global politics. Diverse far-right actors, such as political parties, civil society groups, and social movements, have been gaining support in domestic contexts while intensifying their transnational contacts.

Focus on National Sovereignty

As these groups focus on national sovereignty and share a stance against globalization, they often contest international organizations (IOs) and their policies. Yet their impact on international organizations differs:

• On the one hand, far-right groups have profoundly changed negotiations on the Global Compact for Migration in the UN.
• On the other hand, radical-right parties in the European Parliament have hardly brought about any deeper policy changes.

Research Question

This raises the question: Why does transnational far-right contestation have varying effects on international organizations?

Knowledge Gap

While scholars have analyzed far-right actors in domestic politics, knowledge about their transnational activities and effects is limited.

Project Overview

FARRIO fills this gap empirically, theoretically, and methodologically.

Empirical Contribution

Empirically, it compares effects of far-right contestation on:

1. The EU
2. The UN
3. Its specialized agencies/treaties

This comparison focuses on four central policy fields:

• Migration
• Women's rights
• Climate change
• Public health

Theoretical Framework

Theoretically, it proposes that IO changes depend on:

• The directness of far-right strategies
• The liberal character of international organizations

This approach breaks new ground in identifying scope conditions for far-right impact, which is highly relevant for research on transnational protest as well as IO resilience and change.

Methodological Approach

Methodologically, FARRIO draws on and further develops quantitative and qualitative methods. It adapts protest event and networks analysis to map transnational far-right contestation, also including social media data.

Interdisciplinary Bridging

Bridging Comparative Politics, Social Movement Studies, and the study of International Relations, FARRIO assesses the challenge far-right actors pose to IOs as well as what measures are suited to respond to it.