How Do We Define The Far-Right?

Political Correspondent

How do we define the far-right?

It’s a phrase which has been long associated with those on the political fringes, like the English Defence League (EDL) and the British National Party (BNP).

But the Alternative for Germany (AfD)’s success in a regional election this week has sparked significant alarm that far-right ideas are becoming mainstream again.

The AfD is now the first far-right party to gain power in Germany at a state level since the Nazi era of World War 2.

Britain’s Treasury minister Emma Reynolds said she would put Reform UK in the “same bracket” as AfD, even though many of the parties’ policies are different.

Rising concerns over immigration and the impact of Donald Trump’s second term in power have also caused concern about a global swing towards the political right.

But what exactly makes something or someone far-right? Here’s what you need to know.

What is the far-right?

According to the European Commission, the “extreme right” consists of five characteristics: nationalism, racism, xenophobia, calls for a strong state and an anti-democratic attitude.

Yet the Commission said not all of these traits need to be present for it to qualify as far-right extremism.

Campaigners at Hope Not Hate have also warned that the term is not interchangeable with fascism.

They describe it is an umbrella term which encompasses the “radical right” – who still believe in the essence of democracy –........

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