Far-Right Discourse and Mainstream Politics in the Elections of 2015-2017

The election cycles of 2015-2017 have been marked by a visible resurgence of anti-immigration politics in the United States and across Europe. Many observers have been shocked by the success of these elements, particularly the Brexit referendum in June of 2016 and Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election in November of that same year. Much has been written about the role of economic dissatisfaction amongst white working-class voters in these movements, particularly in the US; but much less attention has been paid to the ways in which these extreme elements normalized themselves while still using the support of more radical elements to propel themselves into the mainstream.

This paper will argue that the success of these “mainstream” far-right movements is due at least in part to the less visible undergirding of extremist movements, such as the alt-right and the Reichsbürger movement, as well as recognized political parties to their right, such as the NPD and BNP. I propose that the deciding factor in this is the ability of more mainstream parties to co-opt the rhetoric and stances of fringe movements in a way that appeals to a broader audience while still mobilizing the core neo-fascist base. After this has been sketched, I will turn to the reaction of outside observers: first, the mainstream conservative and liberal parties; second, foreign countries; and third, the far left, which has developed its own internet culture mirroring that of the far right.