From the margins to the mainstream: right-wing populist interpretations of (radical) Islam as a societal challenge in Europe and beyond (RaMi)

The project focuses on the relationship between the rise of right-wing populist movements and (radical) Islamic currents, and, consequently, on the effects of this relationship on Western liberal democracy. The point of departure is the observation that fear, perceptions of threat, and insecurity increasingly dominate debates about Islam—even among established actors. In this context, right-wing populism plays a central role in shaping and framing the discourse on “Islam” in Germany, Europe, and the transatlantic sphere. Existing studies have not yet systematically examined whether, how, under what conditions, and in what direction public discourse as a whole has changed through populist interpretations linking national identity, (Muslim) migration, and Islam, nor how this transformation affects liberal democracy itself. On the one hand, established institutions resist the instrumentalization of religion; on the other hand, certain subgroups cooperate with populist actors. Furthermore, the project investigates for the first time—through an innovative methodological design in a comparative European and historical perspective—how the accelerated mediatization of politics, the strategic use of modern mass media by populists, and the internal logic of the media themselves shape contemporary perceptions of Islam.

The interconnection of identity, right-wing ideologies, immigration, and reinterpretations of Islam remains a largely underexplored phenomenon that has only begun to be analyzed (Fitzi et al. 2018; Schellhöh et al. 2018).

Historical points of reference can be found in portrayals of the Middle East and the Arab world as backward and threatening cultures (Adam 2013; Said 1979). There is still insufficient cross-national research on the effects of these developments on liberal democracy—particularly regarding the democratically contested legitimacy of certain actors, arguments, and procedures. Likewise, the relationship between populists and established religious actors, their responses, and the resulting effects on overall public discourse have not yet been systematically examined. While the positions of these actors are generally known, there is still too little research on the specific arguments they employ.

Current studies show that anti-Muslim stereotypes and Islamophobia resonate strongly within the broader population (Foroutan 2019; Uenal et al. 2020). Religion plays a central role in the formation of identities and belonging (Baumann 2016). The feedback effects on processes of pluralization and hybridization of Islamic identities require further investigation (Foroutan 2013).

Initial findings also exist regarding the ambivalent attitudes of established religious actors toward populists (Orth/Resing 2017; Marzouki et al. 2016; Weiberg-Salzmann/Hennig 2020). Populist movements increasingly appear to assume religious functions by promising salvation and exculpation (da Silva/Vieira 2018), reducing complexity, making moral judgments, and providing orientation in questions of identity (Daniel 2016; Gentile 2006). This may contribute to the institutionalization of the debate and the establishment of potentially anti-democratic forms of argumentation (Pytlas 2015; Saramo 2017).

The central role of modern mass media in the existence and success of populist parties has been well documented (Burack/Snyder-Hall 2012; Decker et al. 2015; Holtz-Bacha 2016; Gäbler 2018; Couttenier Mathieu et al. 2019). The commercial dimension of populist communication has also been highlighted.

The project contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between right-wing populism and (radical) Islam, as well as the associated social conflicts, polarization, and processes of societal fragmentation. Its focus lies on transformations in public discourse and democratic norms and values. Based on the findings, discursive and media strategies will be developed—in dialogue with the scientific advisory board and other relevant actors in the field—to counter radicalizing and populist interpretive patterns. The close cooperation and regular exchange between the DeZIM Institute, the Centre for Religion and Modernity (Münster), and the Department of History at Ruhr University Bochum enables broad interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers working on populism and religion.

The study employs a mixed-methods design. To this end, the project combines content-analytical approaches, discourse network analysis, and event analysis of political developments (including Islamist terrorist attacks) with country-specific historical context analyses and expert interviews. The empirical basis consists of media coverage of Islam in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy from 2000 to 2020.

The project is divided into five work packages:

• Project launch and foundations
• Actor networks and the dissemination of right-wing populist narratives
• Effects and mechanisms
• Context analysis and historical trajectories
• Synthesis and transfer

Collaboration within the individual work packages is ensured through consortium meetings, international and national workshops, and regular digital jour fixes held at least once a month. In addition, close cooperation takes place in conducting country-specific data collection.

The differentiated findings can be traced, among others, in the following publications:

• Shaimaa Abdellah, Sina Tultschinetski et al. (2025): Islamism as a Societal Challenge: Causes, Effects, and Policy Options. Short Version. Leibniz Institute for Peace and Conflict Research.
• Brunner, Max M. (2022): “The European Far Right: A Review of the Recent Literature.” Moving the Social. Journal of Social History and the History of Social Movements, 67, 125–136.
• Sponholz, L. (2021): “Hatred with Likes: Hate Speech as a Form of Communication in Social Media,” in Sebastian Wachs, Barbara Koch-Priewe & Andreas Zick (eds.), Hate Speech – Multidisciplinary Analyses and Courses of Action.
• Sponholz, Liriam; Meuth, Anna-Maria (2025): “How do events shape the media agenda on Islam and Muslims in Western Europe? An analysis of news events in Germany, the UK and France (2000–2020).” Social Sciences & Humanities Open 11.
• Sponholz, Liriam; Meuth, Anna-Maria; Weiberg, Mirjam; Zajak, Sabrina; Berger, Stefan (eds.) (2025): Radicalising the Mainstream in Western Europe: The Far Right and Narratives of Islam in Contemporary and Historical Perspective. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

• Shaimaa Abdellah, Sina Tultschinetski et al. (2025): Islamismus als gesellschaftliche Herausforderung. Ursachen, Wirkungen, Handlungsoptionen. Kurzfassung.
• Leibniz-Institut für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, unter: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-658-48202-2
• Brunner, Max M. (2022) The European Far Right. A Review of the Recent Literature. Moving the Social. Journal of Social History and the History of Social Movements, 67, 125–136. https://doi.org/10.46586/mts.67.2022.125-136 
• Sponholz, L. (2021) Hass mit Likes: Hate Speech als Kommunikationsform in den Social Media, in Sebastian Wachs, Barbara Koch-Priewe & Andreas Zick (Hg.). Hate Speech - Multidisziplinäre Analysen und Handlungsoptionen. Theoretische und empirische Annäherungen an ein interdisziplinäres Phänomen (15-38). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-31793-5_2 
• Sponholz, Liriam; Meuth, Anna-Maria (2025): How do events shape the media agenda on Islam and Muslims in Western Europe? An analysis of news events in Germany, the UK and France (2000–2020). Social Sciences & Humanities Open 11. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101291.
• Sponholz, Liriam; Meuth, Anna-Maria; Weiberg, Mirjam; Zajak, Sabrina; Berger, Stefan (Hg.) (2025): Radicalising the Mainstream in Western Europe: The Far Right and Narratives of Islam in Contemporary and Historical Perspective. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-85963-2.