Establishment of a Research Group on the Radical Right in Switzerland

Research on the radical right in Europe has gained considerable momentum in recent years. In Germany in particular, there has been a marked increase in research activity, reflected in the establishment of new research networks, academic initiatives, and scholarly publications.

In Switzerland, by contrast, research in this field remains comparatively fragmented and has little institutional support. Research projects often develop in parallel without meaningful contact between those involved, while interdisciplinary exchange remains limited. Against this background, a research group is being established to bring together scholars working on the radical right and its various manifestations, including the populist right, the extreme right, and the so-called New Right.

The research group aims to strengthen interdisciplinary dialogue and provide a long-term platform for cooperation and the further development of research on the radical right in Switzerland. It also seeks to promote and expand international and transnational exchange with existing research groups and networks, such as the Zeithistorischer Arbeitskreis Extreme Rechte (ZAER) and the Network for Nordic Fascism Studies (NORFAS). In doing so, it aims to intensify and establish lasting research cooperation beyond Switzerland.

Focus of the Research Group

The research group is primarily aimed at doctoral and postdoctoral researchers but explicitly welcomes all scholars working on the radical right. Researchers from history as well as the social sciences and humanities are invited to participate, particularly those working in sociology, political science, media studies, and religious studies.

Chronologically, the research group focuses on both the era of historical fascism and the diverse continuities, transformations, and reconfigurations of the radical right from 1945 to the present. Particular attention is paid to the emergence of new currents, such as the so-called New Right, and their ideological, organisational, and personal trajectories. Transnational networks are another important area of interest, with the aim of examining processes of exchange, transfers, and global connections. Furthermore, the research group seeks to investigate contemporary manifestations of the radical right and analyse them in the context of long-term historical developments.

Thematically, all research projects related to the radical right are welcome, including those addressing:

• Racism, antisemitism, nationalism

• Völkisch ideologies, social Darwinism, identity politics

• Populism, party politics, authoritarianism, anti-liberalism

• Conceptions of nature, ecology, biopolitics, population policies

• Gender orders, constructions of masculinity, antifeminism

• Religion, esotericism, conspiracy narratives

• Anti-intellectualism, alternative knowledge production, pseudoscience

• Media strategies, counterpublics, digital radicalisation

• Politics of memory, historical narratives, revisionism, denialism

• Violence, terrorism, paramilitary networks

• Intellectual milieus, metapolitics, cultural strategies

• Youth cultures, subcultures, music scenes

Particular emphasis is placed on research relating to Switzerland and its transnational and global connections. However, a specific focus on Switzerland is not a prerequisite for participation in the research group.

First Meeting and Future Perspectives

The first meeting aims to provide an overview of ongoing research projects, strengthen networking among researchers in Switzerland, and discuss opportunities for exchange and cooperation. It will also address the structure, objectives, and future direction of the research group.

Subsequently, two to three meetings per year are planned. These will provide opportunities to present and discuss work in progress, collectively examine texts and archival collections, develop conferences and workshops, and reflect on strategic questions concerning research on the radical right in Switzerland. Potential funding opportunities and forms of institutional support will also be explored. The research group is intended as a forum for scholarly exchange and the promotion of early-career researchers, organised in a participatory, collegial, and open manner.

The kick-off meeting will take place on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, from 10:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the University of Fribourg, with the option of a joint lunch afterwards. It is organised by the Department of Contemporary History (Stefan Rindlisbacher, Damir Skenderovic).

The meeting will be held in German and French (participants may speak in their preferred language). Contributions in English are also welcome.

Registration: Those interested in participating are asked to register by 10 May by contacting Stefan Rindlisbacher at stefan.rindlisbacher@unifr.ch. Please include a brief description of your institutional affiliation (if applicable), academic background, and current or planned research projects.

If you are unable to attend the first meeting, you are nevertheless welcome to get in touch to be added to the research group's mailing list and receive information about future meetings, activities, and developments. Further organisational details will be provided following registration.