Building power when the far-right is on the rise

The speed and scale of US President Donald Trump’s actions after returning to the White House in January 2025 sent shockwaves across the world — from withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement to suggesting that Palestinians should be removed from the Gaza Strip. A month later, the far-right AfD party came second in the German elections, becoming the largest opposition party in a country which had previously turned away from its far-right past. Both are clear signs of a broader shift — the rise of authoritarianism, the growing strength of the far-right, and a deepening “moment of demoralisation and disorientation1” for the left. 

The far-right playbook

The far-right thrives on division. By exploiting economic instability, the far-right is redirecting public frustration over declining living standards away from growing corporate power and the climate crisis – stoking nationalism to scapegoat migrants and Indigenous land defenders, while tearing down environmental regulations. 

This playbook is not new, but it has become more sophisticated: the far-right is now weaponising social media, corporate-backed think tanks, and political influence to stall urgent action on climate and social justice. 

The far-right is seizing the current moment to escalate its repressive agenda, under the guise of protecting ‘ordinary people’ from a so-called ‘globalist elite’. Yet Trump was the 530th richest person on the planet in 2024 – and now holds the most powerful office in the world – while his unelected advisor, Elon Musk, is the world’s richest man. These billionaires are the definition of a ‘globalist elite’. 

An alternative vision

Now, more than ever, the left must provide an alternative vision for the world: a just transition to fairer, greener economies and societies is needed, one which protects people and planet, with land, energy and food systems put back into the hands of working people.

A just transition must address the root causes of inequality, climate disaster, and ecosystem collapse. Economic and ecological decisions must be made democratically, collectively, for the benefit of all – and not dictated by the vested interests of powerful corporations,  authoritarian states or the super-rich.

Building power

The far-right exploits divisions: between workers and climate activists, between rural and urban communities, between economic survival and ecological repair. It thrives on fragmentation and disinformation, pitting land defenders against unions, and local communities against international movements.

To turn a left-wing vision of a just transition into a solution, these false divisions must be dismantled. Left-wing groups must ‘build power’ by coming together to forge alliances across struggles -- connecting workers, Indigenous land defenders, climate activists in a shared vision, which centres the perspectives and experiences of those living on the frontlines of these crises.  

War on Want’s role

War on Want is working to build power by dismantling artificial divides that weaken left-wing movements, in the aim of building a ‘movement of movements’ – where struggles for climate justice or workers’ rights are connected and reinforce one another.  

Together with Global South activists and allies, at the UN Climate Summit COP29 (November 2024), we co-ordinated coalitions to unite climate justice and Palestinian solidarity groups under one call: End Fossil Fuels, End the Genocide. These struggles are connected: fossil fuel industries fuel Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people, while increasing climate breakdown.

By uniting with allies across global movements at COP29, we helped shape agendas and provide critical analysis to hold governments to account, while advancing a transformative just transition.

Equally important to building power is sharing knowledge, deepening connections and strengthening collective understanding of crises from climate breakdown to economic and racial injustice; to challenge and change how people understand, speak and act on climate and other global justice issues.

Ahead of COP29, we united activists through a series of just transition educational sessions – forging vital links between local struggles and international voices. This collective approach created spaces for activists and movements to meet, share experiences and align strategies — breaking down silos.

Our Struggle is Global

Combating the divisions and hatred that fuel far-right power can only be done by rejecting these choices and instead, uniting and recognising that the fight for a just transition is global. 

War on Want’s work to build power relies on strong partnerships with progressive organisations in the Global South. We back trade unions, social movements, and grassroots collectives that represent workers and communities — organisations of workers not for workers — empowering them to drive change from within.  

Grassroots leadership matters 

Grassroots leadership is key to systemic change. For example, through our food sovereignty work, we support grassroots farmer organisations and unions of farmworkers – such as the Kenyan Peasants League and MONLAR in Sri Lanka – to build the power of their movements from the ground up, strengthening local economies. 

This brings tangible local benefits —improved livelihoods and income, stronger communities, and sustainable agricultural practices. Movements are strengthened, paving the way to long-term systemic change: food as a right, not a commodity – and agricultural practices led by grassroots groups. 

By forging new and stronger alliances, groups can act together on common concerns, addressing systemic issues that require not only one group, but a movement. 

Shifting the narrative

Our solidarity work with Global South partners involves amplifying voices and connecting struggles across borders: campaigning here in the UK against multinational corporations tied to our partners’ struggles — such as mining giant Glencore’s extractive operations in Latin America, or fashion brand NEXT’s union-busting of garment workers in Sri Lanka.

Through this campaigning work, along with organising events and speaker tours, we bring Global South communities' struggles into public focus, influencing Global North policy debates. 

Reclaiming the Future

The future isn’t inevitable. The far-right thrives on exhaustion, and a vision of authoritarian control as the only possible future.

History tells a different story: rupture creates possibility. When systems fail, cracks appear, and through those cracks, new futures take root.

A just transition is not only about stopping the worst from happening -- it is about building something radically better. A world where the economy serves life, not the other way around. 

A just transition will happen through people, workers, coming together – whether via strikes, land occupations, community farms, or energy cooperatives reclaiming power from corporate hands. This transformation is already underway – towards a world where wealth is measured in clean water, breathable air, thriving communities -- not corporate profit.