Live in Amsterdam: The Far-Right Playbook

The far-right’s ascent across Europe relies on a sophisticated, transnational propaganda playbook that exploits digital media to bypass traditional gatekeepers and normalize extremist narratives. By building independent media empires and leveraging conspiracy theories—such as the "Great Reset" or anti-Semitic myths regarding globalist agendas—these movements successfully capitalize on public anxiety during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and rising economic instability. Austrian journalist Nina Horacek and media studies professor Bharath Ganesh highlight how these groups instrumentally adopt liberal causes, such as women’s leadership or LGBT rights, to launder their image and scapegoat minorities. While mainstream political parties often inadvertently legitimize these views by shifting rightward to compete for votes, the resilience of democratic institutions depends on strengthening independent media, enforcing platform accountability, and fostering critical public engagement to dismantle the emotional manipulation inherent in modern far-right discourse.