A call for innovative approaches to combat rising far-right extremism

The United Kingdom is currently experiencing concerning trends towards authoritarianism that negatively affect civic space, including grassroots activism, community organising, NGO campaigning, and philanthropic funding. This is part of a broader global pattern of shrinking civic space and rising authoritarianism documented by international bodies.

Key points regarding the UK's state of authoritarianism and its civic impact include:

Authoritarian tendencies in the UK, among other countries, manifest as increasing restrictions or pressures on individual and collective freedoms, limits on freedom of expression and assembly, and weakened judicial independence, which collectively constrict spaces for public action. These trends align with a global deterioration in rule of law and civic openness.
Grassroots activism and community organising face challenges from this authoritarian shift. This can include legal and regulatory barriers, state surveillance, and political rhetoric that delegitimises dissent, making it harder for community groups to operate freely and visibly.
NGO campaigning and civil society work are endangered by funding constraints exacerbated by political decisions. For instance, significant cuts to international aid and philanthropy (e.g., US aid cuts under Trump and funding reductions from European states) threaten to cut off vital resources for NGOs, undermining their capacity to campaign and organize locally.
Philanthropic funding is under systemic stress, with calls for philanthropy to better support local leadership and civil society in a constrained environment. The reduction in external financial support risks weakening the resilience of grassroots and NGO actors against authoritarian pressures.
In the political landscape, the rise of groups like Reform UK, which embrace conspiracism, poses additional threats to democratic norms and may contribute to increasing polarization and authoritarian rhetoric within the UK.

While not unique to the UK, these dynamics fit within a non-linear and heterogeneous global trend towards authoritarian governance marked by tensions and contradictions rather than a monolithic form of fascism or dictatorship. The UK’s situation reflects a complex interplay of political shifts affecting the democratic infrastructure supporting civic engagement.

The current state of authoritarianism in the UK contributes to a shrinking civic space characterized by greater restrictions on freedoms essential for grassroots activism, community organising, NGO campaigning, and compromises on philanthropic funding, all of which undermine the robustness and diversity of civil society. Updated data from the 2025 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index to be published later this year is expected to provide further quantitative insights on these trends.

In response to this growing threat, the author has set up a Slack group called Building Beyond Authoritarianism to connect people worried about this issue, talk about it, make connections beyond silos, share what they're already doing, and foster collaboration to try new things together. Civil society needs to take bold, radical action, to try new things, build new alliances and connections, organize in communities, and develop new ideas for a way forward.

The authoritarian far right is winning globally, and civil society in the UK is not responding meaningfully to this new reality. Far right parties and movements seek to limit civic space, dismantling structures that could limit their power. Campaigning approaches that used to work, such as seeking to change laws and policies through lobbying, research, charitable campaigning with digital mobilization, are not delivering in the current political climate.

The contemporary far right is fundamentally 'nativist' or 'ethno-nationalist', an ideology which claims to uphold the rights of those who are 'native born' over immigrants who are othered and blamed for societies' challenges. The imminent proscription of Palestine Action, the recent militarized response to LA protests against ICE immigration enforcement in the US, and the severe restrictions on NGOs in countries like India are examples of erosions of the right to protest.

The current political climate is a polycrisis, with interconnected crises including the deepening of the climate crisis, increasing migration, instability, and conflict, rising inflation, and a cost of living crisis. All causes, including migration, climate, and social justice, are in jeopardy due to authoritarianism. Civicus, the civil society alliance tracking civic space, classified the UK as already obstructed in 2024.

The trends of authoritarianism have been there for the last 15 years, but the global hegemony is shifting towards a more authoritarian capitalism. The Fund for Global Human Rights found that movements worldwide are almost fully occupied with firefighting their repression, unable to take space for strategic thinking or long-term power building. The latest YouGov MRP polling shows Reform, led by Farage, winning the largest number of seats if an election were held tomorrow.

In conclusion, the UK is facing a significant challenge in preserving its civic space amidst rising authoritarianism. It is crucial for civil society to respond boldly, collaborate, and innovate to counteract these trends and protect the fundamental freedoms that enable grassroots activism, community organising, NGO campaigning, and philanthropic funding.

The trends of authoritarianism observed in the UK reflect a global deterioration in rule of law and civic openness, as individual and collective freedoms, freedom of expression, and assembly are increasingly restricted.
Grassroots activism and community organising in the UK are under threat due to legal and regulatory barriers, state surveillance, and political rhetoric that delegitimises dissent, making it harder for community groups to operate freely and visibly.
The rise of groups like Reform UK, which embrace conspiracism, poses additional threats to democratic norms and may contribute to increasing polarization and authoritarian rhetoric within the UK.
NGO campaigning and civil society work are endangered by funding constraints exacerbated by political decisions, with significant cuts to international aid and philanthropy threatening to cut off vital resources for NGOs.
In the face of these challenges, it is crucial for civil society to take bold, radical action, collaborate, innovate and develop new ideas to protect the robustness and diversity of civil society.
The contemporary far right is characterised by nativist or ethno-nationalist ideologies, which limit civic space, dismantle structures that could limit their power, and restrict the right to protest, as seen in examples such as the imminent proscription of Palestine Action and the militarized response to LA protests against ICE immigration enforcement in the US.