Abstract

Thus far, the motives and determinants of right-wing activism received little research effort, An integration of the existing research into a hypothetical frame is proposed. Two aspects are distinguished. First, the individual needs to be susceptible to the appeal of such organisations ('demand'). This susceptibility consists of two related components: the ideological fit (consonance in ideology) and the emotional fit (consonance in needs and personality). Four perspectives are discussed concerning the latter: anomia, authoritarianism, the man of violence and youthful masculinism. Second, the organisation equally need to 'supply' an interesting 'offer'. So, we describe the dynamics of the process of recruitment, that originates from the organisation. We discuss consensus mobilisation, the role of social networks in recruitment and the different factors that transform occasional participation into active militantism. All steps are illustrated with results from research concerning right-wing militantism.

How to Cite:

Bilsen, K. & De Witte, H., (2001) “Waarom worden individuen actief binnen een extreem-rechtse organisatie?: integratie van de beschikbare literatuur in een hypothetisch kader ter verklaring van extreem-rechts militantisme”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 22(1), 37–62. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86517