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Reposted by Stijn van Kessel

Léonie de Jonge @leoniedejonge.bsky.social · 8d

📣 Together with Iris Beau Segers, I wrote about the recent far-right violence at an anti-immigration demo in The Hague in the Netherlands. If you are curious about what is happening in the run-up to the elections, this blog is for you 👇🇳🇱

C-REX @crexuio.bsky.social · 8d

📢 New Blog Post! 🚨 Just a month before the Dutch elections, Iris Beau Segers and @leoniedejonge.bsky.social highlight the troubling normalization of far-right ideologies, the democratic erosion, and the recent violence at an anti-immigration demo in The Hague. www.sv.uio.no/c-rex/englis...

Far-Right Normalization and Democratic Erosion: A Pre-Election Update from the Netherlands - C-REX – Center for Research on Extremism

Just a month ahead of the Dutch elections, Léonie de Jonge and Iris B. Segers raise concerns about the growing normalization of extreme-right ideologies and actions, highlighted by the unprecedented v...

www.sv.uio.no

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Stijn van Kessel @stijntvankessel.bsky.social · 8d

With Andrej Zaslove, I wrote a piece on the recent extreme-right riots in the Netherlands, and what should be learned from them 👇

Illiberalism Studies Program @illsp.bsky.social · 8d

New piece! Stijn van Kessel and Andrej Zaslove on the far-right riots in The Hague, the reaction from political leaders, and lessons for preserving liberal democracy and liberal democratic principles. Check it out!

@ieres-gwu.bsky.social
@stijntvankessel.bsky.social

What Mainstream Parties and Media Should Learn from the Dutch Extreme-Right Riots illiberalism.org |

Stijn van Kessel and Andrej Zaslove on the far-right riots in The Hague, the reaction from political leaders, and lessons for preserving liberal democracy and liberal democratic principles.

www.illiberalism.org

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Jane Green @profjanegreen.bsky.social · 10d

NEW!
In Liverpool for Labour Conference...

Starmer is concentrating on Reform but Labour shouldn't mistake their threat on the right, even in Leave voting heartlands.

Our new analysis w/ @martamiori.bsky.social explains:

politicscentre.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

Article - Nuffield Politics Research Centre

politicscentre.nuffield.ox.ac.uk

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Tarik Abou-Chadi @tabouchadi.bsky.social · 12d

The success of the far right is not only measured in votes and seats but in its impact on rhetoric, policy and ideology. The fact that a (nominally) social democratic head of government with a huge majority choses to say and do this is maybe the biggest success of the far right in Europe yet.

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Tarik Abou-Chadi @tabouchadi.bsky.social · 12d

For the Guardian, @turnbulldugarte.com and I discuss our research that clearly shows one thing: Labour's anti-immigration strategy will only strengthen Reform and weaken its own electoral prospects. It won't win voters back but ultimately normalizes the far right

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Our research makes it clear: by capitulating to the right, Labour is driving voters to Reform UK | Tarik Abou-Chadi and Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte

Mimicking Farage on immigration is senseless. Labour voters feel betrayed; anti-immigration voters see through the ruse, say academics Tarik Abou-Chadi and Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte

www.theguardian.com

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Tarik Abou-Chadi @tabouchadi.bsky.social · 13d

Now out in @cpsjournal.bsky.social. In our new article, @denis-cohen.bsky.social @thmskrr.bsky.social and I show that where local rent prices increase more, residents with lower incomes become more likely to support the radical right AfD.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

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Sarah de Lange @sldelange.bsky.social · 13d

“De normalisering van uiterst rechts zie je terug op straat” met commentaar van @leoniedejonge.bsky.social @peter8rberg.bsky.social en yours truly www.trouw.nl/politiek/de-...

De normalisering van uiterst rechts zie je terug op straat

Het recente geweld in Den Haag vloeit volgens deskundigen voort uit de normalisering van extreemrechtse denkbeelden. Gevestigd links wordt deze campagne weggezet als gevaar voor de democratie. ‘Dat is...

www.trouw.nl

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PSA Italian Politics @psa-italian.bsky.social · 13d

We are pleased to invite to you to the book launch of "Populist Radical Right Parties in Action: The Survival of the Mass Party” (Oxford University Press).

🗓️ October 15th, 15:30
📍 King’s College London (and online!)

Please register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launc...

Book launch - Populist Radical Right Parties in Action

Join us for this exciting book launch at King's College London, where you can meet the authors and enjoy some refreshments!

www.eventbrite.com

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Stijn van Kessel @stijntvankessel.bsky.social · 15d

Versions of this BBC World article on the UK immigration protests and broader context also available in Uzbek, Arabic, Serbian, Vietnamese, among other languages (in case this is of interest).

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 15d

👍👏 @qmpoliticsir.bsky.social's @stijntvankessel.bsky.social quoted - in pidgin!

"Trying to compete for di turf of di far right, trying to sound like say dem dey tough on immigration, go only keep di issue of immigration high for di political agenda, and dat go ultimately benefit di radical right."

UK anti immigration protests: Wetin dey behind di rise of nationalism for UK? - BBC News Pidgin

Last week, more dan 100,000 pipo bin take part for anti-migration protest for London. Shey di UK na di next big democracy to take radical shift to di right?

www.bbc.com

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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 15d

On the one hand, better late than never.
On the other hand: why so late?

The case for doing this was just as obvious in May as it is in September.

Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · 15d

'The speech this week will be the first time Starmer will publicly take on the arguments of Farage since Reform ramped up its policy announcements and visibility over the summer' www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Keir Starmer to launch progressive fightback against ‘decline and division’ fuelled by far right

Prime minister expected to warn UK is ‘at a crossroads’ as he sets out plan to counter Nigel Farage and Reform

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Zakee @robbiez57.bsky.social · 15d

Zeer lezenswaardig, dit interview van @stevoakkerman.bsky.social in Trouw. Met opvallende en rake uitspraken over de media: “Talkshows zijn een paardenrace en media hebben de neiging om het dominante frame niet te bevragen, maar te volgen.”

www.trouw.nl/verdieping/p...

Politicoloog Tom van der Meer is niet bang voor wat polarisatie. ‘De vraag is: welk sóórt conflict willen we?’

Middenpartijen moeten de waardenloze politiek vaarwel zeggen, stelt hoogleraar Tom van der Meer. Laat zien dat het mogelijk is van mening te verschillen binnen een coalitielandschap.

www.trouw.nl

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Léonie de Jonge @leoniedejonge.bsky.social · 15d

📣 Nieuwe column voor @groene.nl. Het klakkeloos overnemen van termen als ‘remigratie’ past in het draaiboek van uiterst rechts. Het versterkt uiteindelijk het zelfvertrouwen van de beweging – wat zich vertaalt in electorale winst en meer zichtbaarheid op straat. www.groene.nl/artikel/remi...

Het klakkeloos overnemen van dubieuze termen als ‘remigratie’ is allesbehalve onschuldig

Het veelvuldig gebruik van een term als ‘remigratie’, eufemisme voor ‘deportatie’, past in de tactiek van extreem-rechts om denkbeelden salonfähig te maken.

www.groene.nl

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Bram van Gendt @bramvangendt.bsky.social · 15d

Wat een slechte analyse. Een extreemrechtse gewelddadige explosie mag niet gepolitiseerd worden, zo’n fascistische geweldsuitbarsting is van zichzelf al politiek.
En dit extremisme wordt zichtbaarder en sterker omdat vanuit het parlementaire domein het gedachtegoed (grotendeels) wordt gelegitimeerd.

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Stijn van Kessel @stijntvankessel.bsky.social · 16d

Ook een goed commentaar dat het ideologische karakter van het geweld aankaart 👇

Guus Valk @guusvalk.bsky.social · 16d

De voedingsbodem voor politiek geweld is er al jaren, het wachten is op een aanleiding.

Analyse in #NRC

www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

‘Hooliganisme’? Leuzen en uiterlijk vertoon vertellen iets anders

Anti-immigratiedemonstratie: Het geweld in Den Haag had een duidelijk politiek karakter. De voedingsbodem voor politiek geweld is er al jaren, het wachten is op een aanleiding. Inlichtingdiensten zage...

www.nrc.nl

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Stijn van Kessel @stijntvankessel.bsky.social · 16d

Ook uitstekende duiding van @leoniedejonge.bsky.social 👇

Onderzoeker over geweld in Den Haag: ‘Extreemrechts gedachtegoed wordt normaal. Dan krijg je dit’

Was de uitbarsting in Den Haag een daad van relbeluste hooligans of een vorm van politiek geweld. Hoogleraar Léonie de Jonge ziet aanwijzingen voor het laatste: ‘Dit is een bewijs van de normalisering...

www.volkskrant.nl

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Stijn van Kessel @stijntvankessel.bsky.social · 16d

Uitstekend commentaar 👇

Michael Persson @mickpersson.bsky.social · 16d

Ons commentaar: over de verbinding tussen rechts en extreemrechts.
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opin...

De reactie van gematigd rechts op rechtsextremisme bepaalt hoe het de democratie vergaat

In de VS wordt de cancelcultuur van Donald Trump geholpen door bedrijven. In Nederland is het de VVD die extreemrechts normaliseert.

www.volkskrant.nl

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Trouw @trouw.nl · 16d

Alles is politiek aan de rellen in Den Haag

www.trouw.nl

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Léonie de Jonge @leoniedejonge.bsky.social · 18d

Anti-immigration demonstration in the Netherlands escalates. This is exactly what happens when far-right ideas are tolerated and normalised over an extended period of time. The far right gains confidence and grows, both at the ballot box and in the streets.
nos.nl/artikel/2583...

Anti-immigratie-demonstratie Den Haag escaleert, confrontatie met politie

De actievoerders steken vuurwerk af en zwaaien met Nederlandse vlaggen maar ook met prinsenvlaggen.

nos.nl

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Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · 19d

I wrote for @theguardian.com about the “Unite the Kingdom” rally.

High time to pull head out of the sand and learn from other countries — if only on what NOT to do!

After the far-right mass rally in London, Britain must learn lessons from abroad – and fast | Cas Mudde

This is no time for complacent exceptionalism. The UK is part of the fourth phase of the far right in the postwar era, and its politicians must respond, says political scientist Cas Mudde

www.theguardian.com

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LSE British Politics and Policy blog @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social · 20d

🔎New! A Reform UK government isn’t inevitable, argues @timbale.bsky.social.

blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

A Reform UK government isn’t inevitable - British Politics and Policy at LSE

Joanna Bale interviews Tim Bale about the prospect of Reform UK ending up in power, and the obstacles along the way.

blogs.lse.ac.uk

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Daniel Gover @danielgover.bsky.social · Sep 8

The assisted dying bill begins its substantive Lords scrutiny this Friday.

Re-posting my piece on what we should expect now that the Lords has the bill. theconversation.com/assisted-dyi...

#assisteddyingbill

Assisted dying: what happens now the House of Lords has the bill?

Peers would be on dicey political ground if they tried to stop the bill passed by MPs – but they may run into problems over timing.

theconversation.com

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Cas Ⓜ️udde @casmudde.bsky.social · Sep 7

From SIX years ago… insane that so many on the “center left” still don’t get the point. There is now so much solid empirical research available too.

Why copying the populist right isn’t going to save the left

The long read: Social democratic parties have been losing ground for more than two decades – but pandering to rightwing anxieties about immigration is not the solution

www.theguardian.com

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Stuart Turnbull-Dugarte @turnbulldugarte.com · Sep 5

Radical right accommodation really does not work.

New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk

doi.org/10.31235/osf...

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Vicente Valentim @valentimvicente.bsky.social · Sep 3

It’s striking how much these patterns are similar across many European counties (both the center left one and the radical right one).

And yet there’s much work to be done in shifting the discourse from competing narratives that have little empirical backing.

The British Election Study @britishelectionstudy.com · Sep 3

Labour's next biggest losses are to left-liberal parties (Liberal Democrats and Greens).

Reform's growth in support has mostly come from the Conservatives and non-voting (much less from Labour).

These reflect patterns of party-bloc voting that we saw in the 2024 UK GE: tinyurl.com/y5pv7thw

Alluvial plot showing the flow of support from vote in the 2024 UK General Election to vote intention in 2025 Wave 30 of the British Election Study Internet Panel.

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The British Election Study @britishelectionstudy.com · Sep 3

Labour's strategy since the election seems designed to appeal to right-conservative voters.

This strategy hasn't worked on its own terms because they have lost the (very few) right-wing voters that they had, while also losing (much) larger numbers of left-wing voters.

Four graphs showing vote intention among 2024 Labour voters by immigration preferences (top-left), defence spending (top-right), taxation preferences (bottom-left), and welfare spending support (bottom-right). In short, each graph shows that Labour has lost a greater number of voters who support a 'left-liberal' position, while also losing the very few 'right-conservative' voters that they had at a higher rate.

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