In November 2024, Baoning Gong and Florian Primig (FU Berlin) organized the workshop Conditions of Success for the Far-Right: A One-Day Exploration of Communication Strategies, Critique, and Scholarly Insights. This event, part of the workshop series of the Far-Right Researchers (FFR) network, brought together scholars from the “Contemporary Research on Far-Right Politics” group at the Weizenbaum Institute to explore the factors driving the far-right’s persistent rise.
Through interdisciplinary discussions, participants examined the role of alienation, conspiracy theories, and alternative knowledge structures in fueling far-right mobilization. Presentations explored key topics such as digital media tactics, the rise of transnational networks, and the broader political, economic, and epistemic crises that contribute to the success of far-right movements. The day’s keynote by Dr. Curd Knüpfer (Associate Professor of Political Communication at University of Southern Denmark and Associate Researcher at the Weizenbaum Institute) provided a comprehensive analysis of public communication ecosystems, highlighting how they favor the far right by rewarding engagement, provocation, and oversimplification. The workshop also highlighted the importance of looking beyond social media influence, advocating for a deeper analysis of the structural conditions that make these ideologies thrive.
For a more detailed analysis and to explore the presentations, visit the Weizenbaum Institute News.