This seminar takes place in the context of the ARENAS General Assembly (ARENAS) which is hosted by the HHU this year. In the political context of the approaching European elections, it seems key to show different approaches to the concept of extremist narrative. Thus, in this seminar we will find four presentations on this topic:

Dissecting Extremist Narratives: A Theoretical Framework for Understanding

(Ana Yara Postigo Fuentes, Stefan Hartmann, Rolf Kailuweit and Alexander Ziem; HHU)

The upcoming conference will spotlight the intricate dynamics between narratives and extremism, examining their interplay with key concepts such as ideology, frame, discourse, and radicalization. The focus of the discussion will be on elucidating the essence of narrative and extremism, exploring how they intertwine and shape socio-political landscapes.

Building upon the foundations of the ARENAS project, which scrutinizes extremist narratives impacting European political and social spheres, this seminar aims to deepen understanding by dissecting the complexities of narrated event contexts. These contexts, often blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction, serve as potent vehicles for propagating extremist ideologies. They offer simplistic explanations for multifaceted socio-political issues while advocating for solutions that prioritize the interests of an ethically superior in-group at the expense of a perceived dangerous out-group.

Central to extremist narratives is the construction of Us/Them dichotomies, reinforced through emotionally resonant storytelling. While not always explicitly endorsing violence, these narratives legitimize its use as a last resort in defense of group interests. Through narrative manipulation, extremist ideologies are normalized, fostering worldviews that perpetuate division and conflict.

Freedom of Speech: the Liberal Paradox

(Katalin Miklóssy, University of Helsinki)

 All democracy indicators evaluate the quality of existing democracies by investigating first and foremost the range of political limitations on civic freedoms. The liberal idea, ever since the 19th century, has advocated equal rights of expression for every individual. Freedom of speech, therefore, is taken for granted as one of the corner stones of liberal democracy. But the social environment is changing: we are living in increasingly polarised societies, witnessing the rise of extremism and hate speech. We encounter the dilemma: how do we re-establish boundaries of civil rights without jeopardizing the rule of law? How do our principles of freedom of speech adapt to the post-truth era?  And how do the attitudes and overall athmosphere of critical social justice, called woke culture, correlate with liberalism and individualism? These questions and many others will be addressed in this session.

So, what do YOU think, how should we tackle the liberal paradox?

Analysing the penetration of populist opinions in Spain

(José Berna, ICPS)

In the aftermath of the 2008 global crisis, politics in Spain lived a strong contestation of the stablished organizations and institutions. The emergence of populism and extremist opinions in the last decade coexist in Spain with a spread feeling of aging of the political system. The emergence of radical options on the left and the right, together with the territorial conflict, are expressions of this feeling. Which are the social segments that are more likely to show populist opinions? Through what “doors” enter the extremist narratives in the social body? Those are the goals of a survey to be conducted in May, within the framework of the ARENAS project.

Ethnography in sensitive fields: Considerations on ethics, legality, and safety

(Laurène Renaut & Samuel Vernet, Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, LPL.)

The aim of this presentation is to discuss the protocol implemented within the ARENAS project, WP2, for the exploration of sensitive fields both digital and physical.

We will examine the ethical, legal and safety issues raised by the ethnographic approach online in neo-Nazi/revolutionary nationalist Telegram groups and discussion channels, and offline in French nationalist movements such as Reconquête.

Three points will be addressed: first, the implications of an incognito approach in a digital context, at every stage of the investigative process: access to the field without prior authorization, clandestine data collection, publicization of the research likely to expose the ethnographer, and the preventive measures to put in place. Second, the security and legal protection issue will be examined in the light of the risks engendered by the inquiry, both for the researchers and for the actors observed. Finally, we will offer a broader reflection on the ethnographer's ethical stance, on his strategies of self-censorship in the publication of his work, and on the legitimacy of the knowledge produced when part of the corpus is not publishable because confidential.