Public history and the British extreme right

This presentation will unpack some of the challenges found in both researching histories of the British extreme right, and communicating these findings to relevant audiences outside academia. It will start by reflecting on the benefits that can come from working with partners, such as watchdog and monitoring organisations, who have a vast knowledge base and datasets that many academics can use for their own research. As an example, will highlight the relationship between the University of Northampton and Searchlight magazine, which has resulted in a major new archive for researchers in this field. It will then explain what types of new research can be developed by historians from such resources, especially allowing for fresh commentaries on issues such as the groupuscular dynamics of the extreme right and its transnational activity – both themes that are becoming increasingly important for those analysing the recent history and current dynamics of the extreme right. Finally, it will discuss some of the challenges encountered with using these new histories to engage wider organisations, especially those linked to the Prevent Agenda such as the police and local authorities. With these issues in mind, it will close by exploring the role that historians of the extreme right can play by engaging with contemporary debates over tackling ‘radicalisation’ and promoting ‘British values’.