Nationalist “Hijacking” Of Student Protests: Case Study Of The Telegram Channel “BUNT je stanje duha”

Drawing on the methodological framework of critical discourse analysis, the study explores the strategies through which extreme digital speech is camouflaged, normalised, and introduced into legitimate spaces of political action. Particular attention is given to the adoption of alt-right aesthetics—including irony, memes, and cultural codes—to legitimise and promote ethno-nationalist narratives. Through such subtle tactics, far-right ideological positions move from the margins and establish a presence within the broader protest framework.

The analysis shows that BUNT’s discursive intervention targets not only the delegitimisation of liberal-democratic actors but also the transformation of civic resistance into a symbolic struggle for a nationalist order. By relying on emotionally charged and dehumanising messages, constructed “inserted elements,” and imagined threats, the channel seeks to undermine the democratic character of the protests and narrow the space for political and identity pluralism. Consequently, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of the complex dynamics of radicalisation within the interplay between digital extremist cultures and contemporary social movements.