Jeremy Poveda

THESIS PROJECT

The far right in power: a comparative political sociology at the local level of the National Front/National Rally, the Brothers of Italy, and the Norwegian Progress Party.

Thesis supervisor: Alexandre Dézé (CEPEL)

The issue of the exercise of power by far-right parties is a fundamental political challenge for contemporary democracies. This thesis project aims to use a comparative approach to study the localized exercise of power by three European far-right parties in three different municipalities: the National Front/National Rally in Fréjus, the Brothers of Italy (FdI) in L'Aquila, and the Norwegian Progress Party (FrP) in Ålesund. The project will seek to answer four key questions: How did these parties gain power in these municipalities? Who exercises power on behalf of these parties? How is power exercised there? What conclusions can be drawn from these parties' exercise of power in these municipalities? This study will draw on tools from the sociology of political parties, the sociology of elites, and the sociology of public action, among others.

Keywords: Power – Political parties – Far right – Local government – Comparative politics – France – Italy – Norway