The work of the SFM touches different ways in which racism is expressed, for example as an ideology to legitimatise discriminatory practices. Discrimination is an unjust form of unequal treatment. Manifest racism, such as in the form of violent demonstrations, is restricted to marginal groups on the extreme right. In its latent and invisible form, in contrast, racism occurs in a subtle manner that is not always immediately apparent.

The research carried out by the SFM covers a wide range of topics:

• Political mobilisation of the extreme right in Switzerland
• Support for victims of racial discrimination
• Help offered to right-wing extremists who wish to leave the extremist scene
• Forms of discrimination in access to the labour market
• Measures to combat discrimination in access to the labour market
• Institutional discrimination linked to the status of foreigners and asylum seekers