Researchers of the far right as intersectional subjects: three arenas for emotional labour

This conceptual article examines the relational dynamic between the research field focusing on the far right and those critical scholars that endeavour to undertake these studies. It is theoretically anchored in the field of political science scholarship that recognises the key role played by gender in understanding both the ideological underpinnings and the workings of various far-right entities and by intersectionality in explaining complex systems of power and inequality. Specifically, this article addresses how the complex subjectivity of scholars of the far right shapes the demands for and experiences of emotional labour along three interconnected arenas: the fieldwork, neoliberal academia and their private lives. The conclusion highlights the need for more attention to the ways in which unequal demands for emotional labour in the academic context perpetuate existing inequalities and that institutions should improve support for scholars whose work demands a high degree of emotional labour.