“Right-Wing Populism and the Shifting Overton Window”: A Top Insight of 2025 Recognised by Research Live

The project was selected twice in Research Magazine/Research Live’s annual “Favourite research and insight work of the year” features, placing it alongside flagship studies on social cohesion, voter behaviour and loneliness as one of the year’s strongest pieces of insight. Our earlier project, Right-Wing Populism: The Shifting Overton Window, led by Steven Lacey, was recognised as one of the standout research pieces of 2025 by a number of industry platforms, underlining its relevance for understanding today’s polarised political and media environment. 

The study, produced in partnership with The Outsiders, maps how far-right narratives move from the fringes into the mainstream and offers practical typologies and counter-narrative strategies that can be used by policymakers, civil society and communicators.

Matilda Andersson, managing director in Truth Consulting and Sabine Stork, senior partner, Thinktank Research, highlighted the work for its attempt to understand right‑wing and far‑right typologies rather than dismiss or ignore uncomfortable signals, noting that this kind of empathetic inquiry is increasingly rare yet essential for democratic resilience.

It was also named among the year’s strongest research projects by Media Leader, thanks in part to Sumran Kaul’s endorsement. Industry leaders described the project as “important and timely” work on the far right that sheds light on societal developments keeping many practitioners and citizens awake at night.

The research presentation recording is available on YouTube.