Mainstreaming vs. normalisation: Towards more conceptual clarity on how mainstream parties legitimise the far right

The far right is becoming increasingly established worldwide and is now in its ‘fourth wave’, characterised by its mainstreaming and normalisation. Although more and more political science research focuses on these processes, we argue that this literature lacks conceptual clarity about what these terms mean, which actors are involved, and what effects these processes have. This article has two aims. First, we describe how mainstreaming and normalisation have been conceptualised and analysed in the existing literature. Building on this, we then introduce a conceptual framework for future empirical research and discuss three research avenues: more precise operationalisations of the mainstream/normal and non-mainstream/abnormal, more refined theories about different political actors, and a broader analytical perspective beyond immigration issues and national-level dynamics.