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The Rise of the Far-Right:

Technologies of Recruitment & Mobilization

 

Editors:

Melody Devries, Ryerson/York University, Toronto, Canada.

Judith Bessant, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.

Rob Watts, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.

 

After decades of existing on the social and political margins, far-right groups and movements are enjoying increasing success and claiming a place in mainstream electoral politics. Media technologies, such as online discussion websites, social media, chat servers, talk radio, or broadcast television increasingly facilitate this success, as such has become essential to far-right recruitment and their mobilization of popular support, engagement in electoral campaigns, and organized violence. One result of this is an increasing normalization of far-right rhetoric within mainstream culture, politics, and media ecosystems in countries like the United States, France, and Japan. Collectively, this contributes to further hate and emboldened violence. Yet, these groups present themselves as a source of hope and solidarity to their followers. While some critics of these far-right groups argue that their supporters are irrational or deceived, the possibility that these movements are exploiting needs that neoliberal societies are unable to satisfy is rarely considered seriously.

 

This call for submissions invites scholars to contribute a chapter to an edited book. This edited collection brings together research that describes what factors lie behind this rise in the far-right, giving attention to how these groups recruit new members and mobilize action, and their use and involvement with media technologies. We suggest that such insight is critical for working out how to mitigate and resist such developments.  

 

The chapters should identify pathways that lead from recruitment to mobilization. Our focus is global, and seeks to include regions of study from North and South America, Europe, the UK, Australia, Asia, Africa and Middle East. Chapters might focus on:

·       The role of media technologies in recruitment and-or mobilizing support for the far-right;

·       Social, emotional or political factors that lead people to join and-or support far-right groups;

·       The socio-historic or technological contexts that support far-right groups, or up-and-coming neo-conservative movements

 

Please submit to the three editors below a 300-word abstract and a 100 word biographical statement (including institutional affiliation) by November 15th, 2018. The editors will then invite selected authors to submit a chapter and let everyone know the outcome of this editorial process as soon as possible. Based on those abstracts we will draft a book proposal and submit it to a reputable publisher with a view to securing a contract for an edited book.

 

Finished chapters should not exceed 7,500 words -including bibliography/references.

 

To submit, or for more information, please contact:

Melody Devries, [log in to unmask]

Judith Bessant, [log in to unmask]

Rob Watts, [log in to unmask]