Online right-wing extremism on Telegram
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2025-03-14
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en
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Abstract
Right-wing extremism has risen among adolescents in the Netherlands. This thesis aimed to analyse online
radicalisation by applying theories of radicalisation to young individuals who were active on the internet. To assess to
what extent these theories apply to online radicalisation, I posed the following research question: “To what extent are
existing theories on radicalisation processes and typologies of right-wing extremism applicable to the online domain of
right-wing extremism in the Netherlands?” Three theoretical frames were used to address this question: radicalisation
processes, typologies of right-wing extremism and critical perspectives on radicalisation. Utilising an ethnographic
content analysis the Telegram chats of four Neo-Nazi groups were examined. This thesis confirms that the existing
theories of radicalisation and right-wing extremism do partially apply to contemporary online radicalisation, it offers
expansions to this debate as well: the young age of the members of these groups, the fast-pace radicalisation, the lack
of structures and oversight in the four groups and the constant online exposure to extremist content proved to be
different then the current literature on radicalisation. These findings suggest that future research on radicalisation and
extremism should include these factors and dynamics to develop a more comprehensive understanding of radicalisation.
Keywords: Radicalisation, Right-wing extremism, Conveyor-belt, Telegram, National Socialism, Glorifying violence.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen