10.11.2026
Prof. Dr. Fabian Virchow supports IRex as an honorary professor since the winter semester of 26/27
Inaugural Lecture on December 17, 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alte Aula – We look forward to working with Prof. Dr. Fabian Virchow!
Prof. Dr. Fabian Virchow is a professor of political science at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, where he heads the FORENA research center on right-wing extremism and neo-Nazism. Previously, he taught and conducted research at the universities of Marburg, Cologne, and Salzburg, among others, and served as a visiting professor at New York University. He earned his doctorate from Freie Universität Berlin.
His research and publications focus on the history, ideology, and praxeology of the far right; “Doing Memory”—practices of remembering right-wing violence; and conflict, social movement, and protest research. He also examines the prevention of right-wing extremism—for example, in social work education, in schools, and in digital public spheres—as well as the impact of bans on right-wing extremist groups.
He is co-editor of the Journal of Research on Right-Wing Extremism (ZRex) and the “Edition Rechtsextremismus” series.
In addition to his research, Virchow is actively involved in teaching and knowledge transfer: He directs the master’s program in Empowerment Studies at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. He also serves as an advisor to the Federal Agency for Civic Education. International collaboration has long been a hallmark of his work; for example, together with colleagues from the United Kingdom and the United States, he co-organized a series of workshops and research networks on right-wing extremism and radicalization in Europe.
Prof Dr Fabian Virchow (Hochschule Düsseldorf, Fachbereich Sozial- & Kulturwissenschaften)
Among his most recent publications is the book “Right-Wing Extremism: The New Normal? The AfD Between Banning and Seizing Power” (2024, Piper Verlag), which he co-edited with Matthias Quent.