SOAS Research Online

Abstract

My PhD dissertation is an ethnography of far-right groups in London. By conducting fieldwork in three distinct field sites, this thesis looks into how contemporary far-right movements are able to mobilise fragmentary, and sometimes contradictory, forms of political consciousness whilst focusing on the intersections of epistemic authority and affect. The three field sites are pubs, think-tanks affiliated with the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), and a group of Traditionalists in London. Though researchers have investigated far-right politics through a range of methodologies, a common discourse is evident within discussions on the emblematic path for the far-right ’s rise that are imbedded in a humanist logic of economic decline or unrealised growth. In contrast to such linear logic, this research has reflected on the inquiry of what far-right ideology offers in terms of making meaning in relation to my participants’ diverse range of histories, lived experiences, and subjectivities. Throughout this thesis I showcase how far-right sentiments can validate, affirm, and empower these distinct groups through affective channels. Furthermore, I show how such sentiments are inextricably linked with notions of epistemic authority and various forms of knowledge, presenting that what links these diverse groups together is a fundamental rejection of mainstream culture that is seen to be subverted against their interests due to political, cultural, and even mystical reasons; an adherence to anti-system political behaviour where political discussions, experiences, and opinions are shared outside the realms of the system that is seen to be positioned against them. Based on my interviews and participant observation, what I found was that far-right ideology is not simply a set of rigid and consistent beliefs that were adhered to, but rather contained affective elements that are channelled, strengthened, and validated through the relationships between my participants