Transnational Far-Right Extremism and Terrorism Connections
Participation in the UNPDC's Workshop Series, tackling the rising numbers of violent incidents unpinned by racial, ethnic, political and ideological motivations.
As part of a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) project supported by the Government of Germany, members of RUSI’s Terrorism and Conflict Research Group are contributing to a global series of workshops addressing the emerging and complex threat posed by violent extremism and terrorism committed on the basis of xenophobia, racism, and other forms of intolerance, or in the name of religion or belief (XRIRB).
Drawing on our extensive research into transnational far-right extremism and terrorism (FRET), online harms, gendered radicalisation pathways, and the exploitation of digital ecosystems, team members delivered presentations at workshops in Europe, South America, and Africa.
These contributions provided a conceptual and practical framing of XRIRB, highlighting its hybrid ideological nature, transnational networking across online platforms, and gendered recruitment strategies, while offering actionable insights for policy and practice. Our contributions also highlight the team’s broader work on preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) and building practitioner knowledge globally.
Aims and objectives
The key objective of RUSI’s contributions to the UNODC XRIRB Workshop Series was to bridge the gap between academic research and operational practice in countering transnational violent extremism.
The sessions led by the RUSI team sought to:
- Provide a conceptual foundation for understanding XRIRB, particularly how seemingly disparate ideological elements, including far-right extremism, misogyny, incel-related violence, eco-fascism, and conspiracy movements can intersect and reinforce one another.
- Highlight the role of gendered narratives and online subcultures in fostering extremist beliefs and facilitating recruitment.
- Examine the use of digital platforms – including gaming spaces, encrypted messaging apps, and meme cultures – as transnational vectors for radicalisation and ideological exchange.
- Inform practitioners and policymakers about trends in transnational XRIRB threats and share good practices on investigation, prosecution, and prevention.
This work builds on RUSI’s wider research on FRET and online harms and supports UNODC’s goal of strengthening national and international responses to XRIRB-related terrorism and violence.
Workshops
The team have made contributions to the following workshops in:Â
- Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brussels, Belgium
- Pretoria, South Africa
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Santiago, Chile
- Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Montevideo, Uruguay