Analyzing the Freedom Convoy through demand and supply-side perspectives in far right literature

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Date
2024-12-12
Authors
Yildirim, Deniz
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Abstract

This thesis explores the Freedom Convoy (FC) movement by connecting it to the extensive literature on the recent far-right phenomenon, including extreme, radical, and populist variants. The FC (January 22nd to February 23rd, 2022) involved a number of Canada-wide protests targeting large cities, smaller communities, border-crossing points with the United States (US), and most importantly, the city of Ottawa, where the protest turned into a nearly month-long occupation. The FC, which differs from typical party-based far-right examples, serves as a unique case of far-right mobilization. Although the FC’s connection to the far-right movement has been established through mutual activists and organizations, no comprehensive analysis has previously connected far-right research to the FC. This study will address this gap using far-right literature. Although Eurocentric and party-centered, far-right literature provides valuable insights into protest-based and non-Eurocentric far-right movements, such as the FC. The methodology of this study will thus involve a thematic review of far-right literature, highlighting the importance of studying non-European and protest-based movements within the context of far-right literature. Additionally, this study examines how the FC was shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic and social media.

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Keywords
Far-right, Freedom Convoy, Canada, Populism, Covid-19, Social media
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