Hostile states and the Far Right: Converging tactics
Think tank: RUSI
Author(s): Various authors
March 10, 2026
This report from UK think tank RUSI examines how hostile states exploit far-right gender and identity narratives to polarise societies and weaken democracies.
This paper highlights the critical intersection between hostile state actors and transnational far-right movements, revealing how gender and identity-based narratives are weaponised to polarise societies, weaken democratic institutions and disrupt international alliances. By amplifying existing societal divisions, states such as Russia, China and Iran exploit far-right ecosystems to advance their strategic goals, creating significant security risks for Western democracies, including the UK.
Key recommendations for the UK government include:
Integrate identity-based narrative monitoring into security assessments to track foreign manipulation and its impact on domestic polarisation.
Develop operational playbooks for crisis response, including safeguarding, policing and strategic communications.
Leverage the Online Safety Act to enforce against coordinated hate, harassment and foreign interference. Enhance support for targeted groups and train frontline practitioners to identify and respond to transnational far-right narratives.
Strengthen transparency in political finance to address foreign interference risks.
This paper provides actionable insights to bolster resilience against hybrid threats and safeguard democratic cohesion.
