Far-Right research & authenticity

For once my post will not be on far-right groups etc..but on those who are identified as experts/researchers including myself.

I started my academic career studying word-by-word the seminal work of Nigel Fielding who -using covert ethnography-infiltrated the National Front and was able to explain its dynamics and members from the inside; he collected data grounded on experience/reality. His data in the ethnographic/anthropological terms were “ authentic”.

Fielding’s National Front inspired me to enter in contact with two very violent Italian hardcore football groups with strong links to the far-right in Italy and abroad. I decided to choose to work from the “inside” as I experienced a lack of real data.. I am witnessing the same problem now with hardcore far right groups ; now like in the past I am puzzled by these analyses

·     how many of these researchers have used the same approach of Fielding?

·     How many of these researchers can gather data via “gatekeepers”?

·     How many monitor the groups online but not only telegram and the usual places.. but on stealth chats, forums?

·     how many of these researchers have met one of these individuals?

The problem is not only the link data-reality; the problem is that this type of analysis informs policy makers and also the so-called deradicalization programs…..