Podcast Summary: LSE IQ – “How is the far right shaping our future?”

Host: Joanna Bale, LSE IQ Team
Release Date: August 5, 2025

Overview

This episode examines the rise of far right and populist radical right politics in the UK, Europe, and beyond. Host Joanna Bale explores social media’s impact, the roles of influential figures like Nigel Farage and Elon Musk, and the implications for democracy and society. Through expert analysis and firsthand accounts—including from Imam Adam Kelwick, who famously responded to mob threats with an act of kindness—the episode unpacks how the far right is shaping our political and cultural future, and what responses are possible.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definitions and Distinctions: Far Right Explained

• Key Terms:
  • Far right serves as an umbrella term, under which populist radical right (e.g., Nigel Farage’s Reform UK) and extreme right (e.g., Tommy Robinson) exist.
    [02:03] Tim Bale: “Far right is an umbrella term and then beneath that you have two strains. One is the populist radical right and the other is the extreme right.”
• Differences:
  • The extreme right is linked to violent, often neo-Nazi subcultures.
  • The populist radical right shares nativist and authoritarian views, but distances itself from overt extremism and typically commits to democracy (though not always liberal democracy). [02:18] Tim Bale: “The populist radical right…is much more committed to democracy, not necessarily liberal democracy, but at least a democracy as most people would understand it.”

2. Nativism, Authoritarianism, and Illiberalism

• Nativism:
  • Prioritizing the native population, rejecting foreign influences.
    [04:08] Dr. Marta Lorimer: “Parties that reject foreign traditions, that reject foreigners and outside influences as negative, and who prioritize the nation above all things.”
• Authoritarianism:
  • Strong focus on security and law-and-order policies.
• Illiberalism:
  • Parties accept democratic elections but dismantle checks and balances, undermining minority protections. [05:02] Dr. Marta Lorimer: “They reject the liberal aspect of democracy...protection of minorities, courts, central banks. This is a part of democracy that these parties do not support quite as strongly.”

3. Case Study: Hungary and the Erosion of Democracy

• Viktor Orban’s Hungary:
  • Altered electoral systems to remain in power, highlighting how far right parties can subvert democracy. [06:09] Dr. Marta Lorimer: “One of the very first things that Viktor Orban did...was create an electoral system that made it basically impossible for him to ever lose.”

4. Elon Musk and Right-Wing Digital Amplification

• Twitter/X Platform Changes:
  • Musk’s re-platforming of banned individuals (Tommy Robinson, Andrew Tate, Donald Trump) increased the reach of far right voices. [08:13] Dr. Michael Vaughan: “Tommy Robinson was deplatformed, now has over a million followers. Andrew Tate...over 10 million followers.”
• Amplification and Legitimization:
  • Direct engagement and echoing of far right talking points and conspiracy theories (e.g., “Democrats import voters”) by Musk. [10:23] Dr. Michael Vaughan: “I think there is absolutely a deliberate political project here.”
• Notable Quote:
  [11:05] Elon Musk (clip): “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is, is empathy...They're exploiting a bug in Western civilization, which is the empathy response.”

5. Rise of Reform UK and Impact on British Politics

• Reform UK's Growth:
  • Surged in popularity, influencing mainstream parties, especially after Farage resumed leadership and won seats in parliament. [14:15] Tim Bale: “The 2024 election was completely disrupted by Nigel Farage deciding to stand…Without him…there might not be a parliamentary presence for Reform UK right now.”
• Appeal Beyond Economics:
  • The party’s support is not limited to the economically deprived; many well-off voters are attracted to cultural grievances and anti-immigration rhetoric. [15:47] Tim Bale: “A lot of the people who vote for the populist radical right are actually quite comfortably off…It's not just economic losers.”

6. Mainstream Right’s Response and Farage’s Media Savvy

• Conservative Party’s Shift:
  • The Conservatives risk becoming an “ersatz populist radical right party” by drifting toward more radical positions under electoral pressure. [17:03] Tim Bale: “They've actually in some senses become a populist radical right party themselves.”
• Social Media Strategy:
  • Farage excels in the “attention economy,” utilizing GB News, TikTok, and viral videos to connect with broad audiences. [18:36] Tim Bale: “He is very media savvy...his ability to use social media and particularly...platforms that other politicians don't really understand, like TikTok.”

7. Disinformation, Violence, and Acts of Empathy

• The Southport Murders and Aftermath:
  • Fake claims about Muslim asylum seekers led to mosque attacks and unrest; Farage’s social media posts questioned police transparency, indirectly fueling riots. [21:27] Tim Bale/Joanna Bale (paraphrased): Farage accused police of withholding truth, stoking public anxiety.
• Imam Adam Kelwick’s Story:
  • Facing a protest mob, Kelwick chose non-confrontation—offering food to protesters, which diffused tensions. [25:45] Imam Adam Kelwick: “The first guy took the first burger. We started talking, and then more people were taking the food.”
    • Notably, Kelwick hugged the protest’s loudest member and later walked him around the mosque. [26:44] Imam Adam Kelwick: “It takes two people to hug. I would not have been able to hug him if he didn't hug me…He walked home a very cheerful guy. And hopefully with a lot of ignorance being dispelled.”

8. Manipulation and the Realities of Protest

• Emotional Agitation:
  • Small groups of agitators manipulate the majority’s genuine anxieties; most protestors are not motivated by hate, but by fear and misinformation. [27:52] Imam Adam Kelwick: “A small number of agitators are the ideologues...but the vast majority...are genuine families who don’t necessarily want to harm others.”

9. Looking Ahead: How Can Society Respond?

• Expert Recommendations:
  • Dr. Lorimer: Mainstream parties should resist copying far right ideas and focus instead on robustly challenging them. [29:47] Dr. Marta Lorimer: “Resist the ideas of the radical right rather than trying to copy them...It only legitimizes the far right and...means everyone is just going to shift to the right.”
  • Prof. Bale: Restoring faith in politics means improving living standards and public services. [30:24] Tim Bale: “All the government can do is focus on trying to make a tangible improvement to people's standard of living and to public services...”
  • Dr. Vaughan: Musk’s influence is real but volatile and not absolute. [30:43] Dr. Michael Vaughan: “A huge amount of volatility and instability...works as almost a countervailing force to his effectiveness at influencing the political landscape...”
  • Imam Kelwick: The broader community often rallies against hate; diverse support at his mosque offers hope. [31:20] Imam Adam Kelwick: “You've got 450 people who are protecting our mosque. And I’m talking about everybody from LGBTQ activists to my local jewelry dealer...that for me is the biggest sign of reassurance.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Far right is an umbrella term and then beneath that you have two strains. One is the populist radical right and the other is the extreme right.”
  – Tim Bale [02:03]

• “Parties that reject foreign traditions, that reject foreigners and outside influences as negative, and who prioritize the nation above all things.”
  – Dr. Marta Lorimer [04:08]

• “He is a child. He'd sit there in the corner of the bookstore for hours reading these comics...He likes this notion of helping humanity. In fact, he has more empathy for humanity in general than he often has for the 20 people around him.”
  – Walter Isaacson (on Elon Musk) [11:44]

• “The first guy took the first burger. We started talking, and then more people were taking the food.”
  – Imam Adam Kelwick [25:45]

• “A small number of agitators are the ideologues...but the vast majority...are genuine families who don’t necessarily want to harm others.”
  – Imam Adam Kelwick [27:52]

• “Resist the ideas of the radical right rather than trying to copy them...It only legitimizes the far right.”
  – Dr. Marta Lorimer [29:47]

• “You've got 450 people who are protecting our mosque. And I’m talking about everybody from LGBTQ activists to my local jewelry dealer...that for me is the biggest sign of reassurance.”
  – Imam Adam Kelwick [31:20]

Key Timestamps

• 00:03: Imam Adam Kelwick recounts responding to anti-Muslim protestors with food.
• 02:03–03:56: Tim Bale explains far right, populist radical right, and extreme right.
• 04:08–06:50: Dr. Marta Lorimer explores nativism, authoritarianism, and illiberalism.
• 08:13–10:52: Dr. Michael Vaughan on Elon Musk’s digital impact and political agenda.
• 14:15–17:03: Tim Bale unpacks the rise of Reform UK and its effect on mainstream politics.
• 18:36–20:33: Social media strategies: Farage’s mastery of TikTok and viral communication.
• 21:18–23:34: After a Southport murder, Farage’s posts, resulting unrest, and Imam Kelwick’s nonviolent response.
• 25:45–27:41: The “burgers and chips” moment, and a protest transformed by empathy.
• 29:47–32:01: Final reflections and expert recommendations for resisting the far right.

Tone

The episode mixes rigorous social science analysis with first-person storytelling, maintaining a respectful, inquisitive tone throughout. The voices of the experts are clear, analytical, and at times, cautionary, while Imam Adam Kelwick’s accounts offer an empathetic, optimistic counterpoint.

Takeaway

Far right politics are increasingly mainstream, using both digital force and cultural grievance to reshape democracies. Responses rooted in empathy, improved policy, and critical civic engagement remain essential for countering their rise and building more resilient societies.