Understanding Extremism: Frames of Analysis of the Far Right

Abstract

In the wake of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombingOklahoma City bombing, North American academics took a renewed interest in researching right-wing extremism. This scholarly agenda was further intensified by extremist activity related to the candidacy and presidency of Donald TrumpTrump, Donald, which was marked by political violencePolitical violence by right-wing groups like the Proud BoysProud Boys, a dramatic increase in hate crimesHate crime, and an assault on the U.S. Capitol to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. This piece explores the origins of the concept of right-wing political positions and how scholars and researchers have used differing theoretical and disciplinary frameworks to best explain how social movementsSocial movement, like populism, transform into sources of political violencePolitical violence. The frameworks discussed include political sciencePolitical science, cultural studiesCultural studies, social movementSocial movement, criminological, and psychological perspectives. Relevant contemporary research resting in each of these five paradigms is discussed and research agendas for the “post-Trump” era, with regard to each perspective, are addressed.