Transnational forms of right-wing extremism

Transnational Forms of Far-Right Extremism Using the Example of the Ülkücü Movement – A Project Report

We will present the (interim) findings of our research project and reflect on them in light of the insights gained from the lecture series. What ideological elements do the ‘Grey Wolves’ employ in Bavaria, what structures and activities do they utilise, and what connections do they maintain reaching into Turkey? How do developments in Turkey influence the activities of the ‘Grey Wolves’ here? We examine the context in Bavaria and dis-cuss why the second largest far-right extremist organisa-tion in Bavaria receives so little attention.
Martina Ortner will outline the contribution that the re-search project seeks to make to considerations of transna-tional forms of far-right extremism, as well as the requirements that are placed upon this field of research.
Rabia Kökten will examine normalisation strategies em-ployed by far-right actors with ties to Turkey in Bavaria and connect these to considerations from organisational sociology. For the survival of these far-right organisations, the establishment and maintenance of a collective identity are central. They operate with two binary codes, which they deploy flexibly and transnationally: Turkish/non-Turkish and Muslim/non-Muslim. Using illustrative examples, the lecture demonstrates how these codes are regularly reproduced and reinforced, leading to increased (in)visibility, recognition, and normalisation as ‘Turkish cultural organisations’.

Biographical Notes
Martina Ortner is a Professor of Migration-Sensitive Social Work at OTH Regensburg. Her research and work focus on (post-)migration, far-right extremism, and community work.
Rabia Kökten is a research associate at OTH Regensburg within the research project “Transnational Forms of Far-Right Extremism” and a member of ForGeRex – the Re-search Association for Contemporary Analysis, Remem-brance Practices, and Counterstrategies for Right-Wing Extremism in Bavaria. She is a doctoral candidate at the PZSGT Doctoral Centre.

The Old within the New Far-Right Factions in Turkey: Continuities and Ruptures

Although contemporary forms of the far right in Turkey have undergone significant transformations, they continue to exhibit strong ideological continuities. At the centre of these continuities lies the legacy of the Ülkücü movement shaped under the leadership of Alparslan Türkeş. The sanctification of the state, the discourse of “survival” (beka), the Turkish-Islamic synthesis, and a form of political ethnocentrism centred on Turkish identity are reproduced today in varying tones across far-right parties such as the MHP, ZP, BBP, İYİP, and AP. Between 2015 and 2025, a notable transformation has taken place in far-right discourse. Antisemitism, which has historically occupied an important place in the ideological roots of the Turkish far right, has been reproduced through both old and new discursive forms; it has become particularly visible in approaches to the Kurdish issue and in anti-immigrant rhetoric. Despite ideological differences among these parties, a shared nationalist framework—structured around the friend–enemy distinction and the “us versus them” dichotomy—remains intact. In conclusion, the far right in Turkey constitutes a political field shaped by both continuity and rupture, one that repro-duces its historical ideological roots within a frame-work of new political pragmatism whilst simultaneously reconstituting itself through change.

Biographical Notes
Dr. Murat Arpacı received his bachelor’s degree in the Department of History at Hacettepe University. His master’s and PhD were completed in the Department of Sociology at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. He conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Hamburg and the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO). He is among the au-thors of the book ‘Historische Ethnische Geographie der Türkei: Verteilung der Muttersprachen (1927–1965)’. His research has been published in journals such as Sociology Lens and The History of the Family. He currently works in the Department of Sociology at Erzincan University and continues his research in the fields of postcolonialism, body politics, migration, dis-crimination, and ethnicity.

Admission

Admission only after prior registration and subject to organiser approval!

The organisers reserve the right to restrict participation to registered individuals. Persons who are members of far-right extremist parties or organisations, who can be identified as part of the far-right extremist scene, or who have previously made racist, nationalist, antisemitic, or otherwise dehumanising statements are excluded from the event.

Participation is free of charge. Registration is required for each event individually . Please register at least 3 days before the events you are interested in by emailing: projekt-retra@oth-regensburg.de.
After organiser approval, you will receive confirmation email as well as the video conference link shortly before the event.

Content Note

This lecture series addresses topics such as racism, political violence, antisemitism, and far-right extremism. Some content may be distressing.