ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to provide a systemic outline of the dynamics of the three-decade-long development of the Czech far right that emerged after 1989. To avoid the electoral bias prevalent in far-right studies, we distinguish between far-right parties, movements, and subcultures and claim that each has a different mobilisation potential and internal dynamics. Based on our analysis, we conclude that the proponents of the Czech far right have faced a riddle of how to combine these conflicting logics. We argue that far-right activists often understood social movements as bases for forming political parties. At the same time, the movements were deeply influenced by subculture, which provided a viable source of activists and ethos. However, when the movements were to enter the political sphere, their subcultural base caused problems as members could not compromise and adopt the universalising and acceptable language needed for mainstream politics. Analysing the interactions of the three logics, we argue that there were four distinguishable cycles of the Czech far-right's contention. During the first two cycles, the extra-parliamentary arena was dominated by the subcultural far right, whereas, during the third and fourth cycles, it abandoned their subcultural aspects and became a “movement for anyone,” focusing only on single issues, such as Islam or COVID as during the third and fourth cycles. We argue that this led to the mobilisation of people beyond the traditional far-right circles.
