FAR-RIGHT DIGITAL ACTIVISM DURING AND BEYOND THE PANDEMIC

While digital activism has formed part of social movements’ contentious repertoires for at least two decades, online forms protest have risen to unprecedented importance across the globe in context COVID-19 pandemic. This article studies continuities and shifts before, during beyond pandemic, drawing from a case study conducted Dresden-based far-right movement organisation PEGIDA. Seeking shed new light on role internet media sustained mobilisation, I explore long-term trends PEGIDA’s since its emergence 2014. To this aim, draw an original patchwork ethnographic dataset generated through participant observation demonstrations Dresden ethnography 2019-21 as well undertaking thorough literature review. The empirical analysis indicates three key findings: Firstly, longitudinal perspective reveals that actor’s practices are not bound one or few ideal-types, but highly dynamic over time. Secondly, my interpretive-ethnographic lens emphasises constitutive dimensions activism. Thirdly, analytical focus pandemic adds insights into relationship between offline worlds mobilisation. As whole, underscores some advantages (patchwork) relation other methods research.