Scholarly record
REFLECTION OF FREEDOM FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM ACTIVISTS
Abstract
This paper is based on a research among elite leaders of right-wing extremist organizations operating in Central Europe. This research primarily dealt with a process the activistsВґ identity has been constructed, especially in relation to personal experience and reflection of social changes since the fall of the socialist totalitarian regimes to present day. One of the research questions explores how they perceive their own freedom, freedom of others and how they understand the concept of freedom in general. A method used in the research was a narrative interview with leaders of extremist movements and parties in Central Europe (former German Democratic Republic, The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary). Narrators were telling their life stories and then were asked, how they reflect contemporary society, especially their own freedom, freedom of others, trust in society and what pros and cons they find in the context of contemporary society. The results showed that the narrators perceive their negative life experiences as formative and the question of freedom as important. They described themselves as open in their minds and hearts, but unfree in mundane life, because they had to follow the rules set by contemporary political, law and social system. They also consider current society to be unfree. Analysis of the interviews showed that the leaders of extremist scene consider freedom as a relevant value based on their specific interpretation. Understanding how they comprehend freedom, how they experience it in their lives and how they appraise freedom of others is important for comprehension of the attitudes and the principles of right-wing extremism and also for further analysis of their mobilization potential in the society.
Publication Impact Profile
- Captures
- Mendeley - Readers: 4
Publication details
ReferencesPending
Structured references will appear here after the reference import pass. The count is preserved now so the scholarly record is not incomplete.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.
