The Unholy Alliance: The Rise of the Far-Right and Digital Capitalism

Katarina Ristic | 2025

While social media was initially hailed as a pillar of democracy, a troubling development is emerging: Digital moguls like Elon Musk are increasingly taking openly far-right positions. This analysis examines the “unholy alliance” between digital capitalism and right-wing movements. It reveals how platform algorithms, targeted disinformation, and a misunderstood concept of freedom work together – and why Germany and the EU have become prime targets of this development.

Date: 31.01.2025
Language: English
Series: RISC Blog
Publication Type: Blog post
Discipline: Global Studies (opens in new window), Political Science (opens in new window)
Keywords: Extremism (opens in new window), Media/communication (opens in new window), Networks/bubbles (opens in new window), Polarization (opens in new window)
Audience: Interested citizens (opens in new window), Scientists (opens in new window)
Sources: Ristic, Katarina. 2025. The Unholy Alliance: The Rise of the Far-Right and Digital Capitalism. Zusammenhalt begreifen. 31.01.2025. url: https://fgzrisc.hypotheses.org/5415.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58079/137rk (opens in new window)
Open Access: Available

Contributing RISC authors

RISC Leipzig

Dr. Katarina Ristic

+49 341 97-33493

katarina.ristic@fgz-risc.de

Work Packages

D_02

Multiple sections

Transnational Ideological Transfer of the Populist and Extreme Right

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