Module manager: Dr Mette Wiggen
Email: M.Wiggen@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module will introduce students to a systematic study of debates and literature on the persistence of the far-right in Europe and beyond, especially since the end of the cold war. The focus will be on established liberal democracies; students will study ideology, policy positions, leadership, communication and link that to contemporary political development. Students will acquire knowledge of common ideological aspects and how individual political parties and movements have set the agenda and shaped politics. Students You will engage with how they communicate, the role of the media and use current affairs in conjunction with academic material to see how relevant the topics are to contemporary political development.
This module will focus on the far right in Europe in a global, historical context. It will link that to current political development in individual European countries including Britain and the world. The objectives are to allow- and encourage students to understand links between far-right parties and movements and relationships between them in an international and a global perspective.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Analyse and explain the historical, international, and global development of far-right movements, demonstrating understanding of their evolution and influence.
2.Evaluate and connect far-right ideologies and organisations to contemporary political parties and movements, assessing their role in current political developments.
3. Critically engage with the wider scholarly literature on the far right, demonstrating the ability to synthesise and appraise key academic debates.
4. Assess and interpret the mechanisms of national and international collaboration among far-right and analyse their impact on legislation and policy change.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1.Identify and retrieve relevant academic and policy sources using digital databases and online platforms.
2.Communicate complex information, ideas, and solutions clearly and effectively in written and/or oral formats, adapting style and structure for different audiences and purposes.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 178 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will be required to prepare for discussions in seminars through extensive reading of sources listed on the module reading list. In addition to this, students should spend time preparing for their assessments which should include finding and using sources not listed on their reading list.
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for the summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | - | 50 |
| Coursework | - | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 07/05/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team