Counter-Generation and the Rise of Far-Right Mobilization: New Occupations, Migration, and Tensional Rhetoric

• In Event: 20861 - Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 13: Right-wing and Conservative Movements

Abstract

The emergence of new occupations in labor markets, driven by neoliberal globalization and technological change, has been widely recognized by labor bureaus. In migrant societies where foreign labor influx outstrips the local workforce, structural deficiencies emerge in both low- and high-skilled sectors. Simultaneously, tensions arise as “locals” perceive foreign workers as competitors, fueling grievances that amplify migrant labor’s negative salience in socio-political debates and far-right agendas.
This study examines these tensions in European societies, distinguishing between Western and Eastern labor markets shaped by historical dependencies. Using a mixed-methods approach, it integrates labor market data with discourse analysis from media, policy discussions, and far-right rhetoric. First, it maps new occupations and their demographic composition, assessing foreign labor representation. Second, it explores public perceptions through media portrayals, political discourse, and labor movement rhetoric in the public sphere. Finally, it investigates how far-right groups exploit these tensions, embedding economic insecurities within anti-migrant narratives.
Preliminary findings suggest that counter-generation tensions are particularly pronounced where native labor historically benefited from state protections that have been eroded by economic liberalization—most notably in Thatcher-era austerity policies. In Western Europe, narratives of “job displacement” intertwine with narrow conceptions which reinforce exclusionary policies, though contradictions emerge where economic imperatives challenge ideological rigidity; while in Eastern context, where post-socialist transitions have heightened economic precarity, migrant labor is framed within a historical legacy of external dependency, fueling more radical nationalist reactions.
This study contributes to sociological debates on the future of work by examining economic restructuring, social consciousness, and ontologically-radical mobilization. As digitalization and AI reshape labor markets, reinforcing governance structures is crucial to preempt socio-political destabilization. Reimagining the future of work requires theoretical and policy-driven strategies to mitigate exclusionary attitudes and foster inclusive labor markets, ensuring resilience amid ongoing transformations.

Author

• Mingyue Li, Freie Universität Berlin