Right-wing immersion and engaged publics

Project duration: March 2025 to December 2027
Project management: Prof. Dr. Tanja Thomas, Dr. Felix Schilk
Funding: BMBF and MWK, Excellence Universities funding line

The research project aims to conceptualize and systematically break down right-wing immersion. By this, we mean the process in which subjects encounter right-wing worldviews or lifestyles and consciously or unconsciously become involved (or allow themselves to become involved). We investigate how right-wing immersion works in various (media) infrastructures and what resources and strategies are used in the process. Specifically, we ask how right-wing patterns of knowledge are taken up in everyday and scientific interpretations, politically reshape them, and thereby generate resonance in different social milieus.

Following the conceptualization of ‘right-wing immersion,’ best practice projects in which ‘right-wing immersion’ is successfully counteracted will be examined. The aim here is to systematize the experiences from the projects and develop a ‘response framework’ for promoting democratic resilience.

In addition, the project is an interdisciplinary working context that will culminate in an application to establish a DFG research group on “Right-wing Immersion and Democratic Resilience.” Participants include the Institute for Research on Far Right Extremism (IRex), the application group for the establishment of IRex, and experts from other universities. 

• How does the everydayisation of right-wing worldviews work?
• How can interventions aimed at promoting democratic attitudes and practices succeed?

1. Breaking down right-wing immersion: Systematic literature review and development of a heuristic for ‘right-wing immersion’
2. Engaged publics: Case studies of best practice projects that promote ‘democratic immersion’
3. Dialogue formats: Focus group interviews with practice partners to discuss interim results
4. Response framework: Policy paper with proposals for promoting ‘democratic resilience’

The research project provides the basis for a wider research network and for an application to establish a research group. Our aim is to adopt an interdisciplinary approach and expand research into democratic responses to right-wing immersion in various conflict areas and at different levels, employing the range of methods represented.

• Prof. Dr. Tanja Thomas (contact person), Institute for Media Studies, University of Tübingen
• PD Dr. Rolf Frankenberger, Institute for Research on Far Right Extremism, University of Tübingen
• Prof. Dr. Bernd-Stefan Grewe, Institute for Didactics of History and Public History, University of Tübingen
• Prof. Dr. Markus Rieger-Ladich, Institute for Education, University of Tübingen
• Prof. Dr. Monique Scheer, Institute of Historical and Cultural Anthropology, University of Tübingen
• Prof. Dr. Barbara Stauber, Institute for Educational Science, University of Tübingen
• Prof. Dr. Andreas Beelmann, Institute for Psychology, Centre for Research on Right-Wing Extremism, Democracy Education and Societal Integration (KomRex), University of Jena
• Prof. Dr. Léonie de Jonge, Institute for Research on Far Right Extremism, University of Tübingen
• Prof. Dr. Annett Heft, Institute for Research on Far Right Extremism, University of Tübingen
• Prof. Dr. Heike Radvan, Institute for Research on Far Right Extremism, University of Tübingen