Global Political Sociology In the Face of Turbulent Politics and the Far Right

In a time when far-right forces across the globe have revealed their violent face, our discipline is confronted with new challenges. Our object of study is changing at an accelerated pace, while our theories and methods sometimes fall short of interpreting these transformations. The radicalized far right is a global phenomenon not only because it forges political networks, but also because it exhibits local characteristics that reflect global patterns. Accordingly, new questions emerge for political sociologists: How can we globalize a political sociology of the far right, overcoming methodologically nationalist and Eurocentric frameworks to grasp transnational political entanglements and to integrate perspectives from the Global North and the Global South?

Close-up research on ideologically divergent actors is becoming increasingly difficult as the risk of harassment or backlash grows. Women and queer researchers face particular threats during participant observation in environments dominated by violent masculinities. Indigenous or migrant sociologists may not gain access to white supremacist movements. Even so, this thorny field produces contradictions and surprises, as openness or unexpected agreements may emerge.

Finally, democratic decline and war raise fundamental questions for our craft. How should we contribute to fostering public awareness and creating spaces for democratic dialogue? What is the role of political sociologists as public intellectuals in turbulent times?

In this open session, we invite papers addressing these analytical and methodological challenges, drawing on fieldwork or conceptual debates. We also welcome contributions reflecting on our responsibility as producers of critical thinking and on university–society engagement amid turbulent politics.