The field of far-right studies has seen significant growth and diversification in recent years, with research increasingly relying on umbrella concepts such as the “far right” to encapsulate a range of political actors, parties, and movements. Despite this progress, there has been a notable shift away from works that differentiate between the radical right and the extreme right, both of which continue to influence contemporary political landscapes in distinct ways. Earlier research highlighted the ideological and behavioral divergences within the broader far-right category, identifying key differences in democratic orientation, sociopolitical goals, and public appeal. However, recent literature often overlooks these distinctions in favor of more generalized classifications, leading to questions about the analytical precision and conceptual robustness of current approaches.

This undifferentiated treatment has sparked renewed debates within political science about the conceptual and empirical costs of collapsing the radical right and extreme right into a single category. Notably, scholars such as Cas Mudde have emphasized the plural and context-dependent nature of far-right politics, warning against portrayals of ideological homogeneity. Major differences exist in how extreme-right and radical-right actors relate to democracy, participate in political processes, and are perceived both by their supporters and the wider public. Ongoing research indicates that using broader labels may obscure significant variations in strategy, rhetoric, and impact, calling for sustained examination of intra-family differentiation.

This Research Topic aims to foster a more rigorous, systematic, and nuanced understanding of the heterogeneous actors often grouped together as the “far right.” It seeks to encourage innovative theoretical and empirical works that critically engage with the radical–extreme distinction, including comparative analyses, detailed case studies, and contributions from both the demand and supply side of far-right mobilization. By advancing scholarship that takes seriously the internal diversity of these political actors, this Research Topic aims to refine core concepts, challenge one-size-fits-all assumptions, and produce clearer insights into the evolving dynamics of far-right politics.

To gather further insights in distinguishing and analyzing radical-right and extreme-right actors, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Theoretical frameworks differentiating radical and extreme right actors
• Comparative studies examining their democratic orientations and strategies
• Case studies of parties, leaders, social movements, or voters within each category
• Analyses of voter behavior and demand-side dynamics
• Exploration of media representations and public perceptions
• Methodological debates on classification and operationalization
• Implications for party competition, policy, and democracy

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Beyond the “Far Right”: Revisiting the Radical–Extreme Distinction