Welcoming bad times: COVID-19 frames on Norway’s far right

Existing literature tends to analyse the long-term evolution of far right’s world-view rather than how it responds short-term events. This exploratory study, however, analyses right in Norway framed unprecedented global crisis COVID-19. The data encompasses 149 Facebook posts, online op-eds, columns, letters editor and YouTube videos about COVID-19 published between 1 January 31 May 2020 by two radical-right parties, three anti-immigration/anti-Islam groups, one neo-Nazi social movement, long-time solo activist a leading alternative media website Norway. They represent full range established new, minor leading, radical extreme far-right actors from last four decades. Based on material analysed, Mjelde identifies overarching frames related world order, governance, immigration conspiracies, as well nine subframes. A main finding is that conspiratorial distrust government constitutes master frame both combine with other reflect key tenets their world-view. findings underscore, first, rigidity world-view; second, contradictory views within remedy for pandemic state’s role; and, finally, China emerging bogeyman US/Trump-friendly right.