Unpacking the diverse far-right voter base beyond stereotypes, including women, youth, and migrants. Discussion on how economic hardship and dissatisfaction with public services fuel support for parties like AfD, PVV, and Chega. Insights from POLITICO reporters and political science professor on the rise of far-right movements in Europe.
Far-right voters are more diverse, including women, young people, and immigrants.
Economic insecurities and fear of missing out on public services drive far-right support.
Populist parties gain traction during crises by offering alternative solutions and challenging traditional responses.
Deep dives
Change in Far-Right Voter Demographics
Recent European election polls suggest a more diverse pool of voters for the far right, including young students, women, and immigrant voters. Contrary to stereotypes of far-right supporters, the surge in far-right elections indicates a broader range of supporters. The far right's appeal extends to individuals feeling a sense of economic insecurity and fear of missing out on public services due to the perceived fiscal burden of immigration. Understanding the evolving demographics of far-right voters challenges traditional perceptions.
Connection Between Economic Hardship and Far-Right Support
Amid economic challenges and uncertainties, far-right parties strategically link public service deficiencies to immigration, fostering a narrative that resources are diverted to newcomers at the expense of native citizens. This narrative resonates with individuals facing shortages in public services like housing, healthcare, and education. By framing immigration as a fiscal burden, far-right parties leverage economic insecurities to gain support, tapping into concerns about the distribution of government resources.
Impact of Crisis and Populist Campaigns
During times of crises such as wars, pandemics, or economic instability, populist parties, both left and right, capitalize on instability by positioning themselves as crisis managers. By criticizing mainstream elite responses to crises and offering alternative solutions, populists present themselves as effective agents of change. Surprisingly, crisis periods have not led to a return to centrist stability but have fueled support for populist parties, challenging the traditional response to crisis in politics.
Normalization of Populism and Trust in Government
The normalization of populism has eroded trust in traditional government responses to crises, leading to a shifting political landscape where voters are less inclined to rally around mainstream centrist parties in times of uncertainty. Rather than seeking stability during crises, voters increasingly turn to populist and far-right parties, viewing them as capable of addressing complex challenges like immigration, public service shortages, and economic uncertainties. This shift reflects a broader disenchantment with traditional political establishments and a willingness to embrace alternative solutions.
Surge in Far-Right Support Amid Crises
In response to crises such as economic downturns, migration challenges, and public service deficiencies, far-right parties have seized the opportunity to present themselves as change agents offering solutions to citizens' insecurities. Leveraging narratives of immigration burdening public resources, far-right parties have gained traction among voters feeling left behind by mainstream politics. The willingness of voters to support far-right agendas indicates a broader disillusionment with traditional political responses to crises and a growing appeal of alternative ideologies.
Diverse Voter Behavior in Crisis Situations
In times of crisis like economic recessions or public health emergencies, voter behavior exhibits unexpected patterns, with a shift towards supporting populist and far-right parties as perceived crisis managers. The disillusionment with mainstream political responses to crises and the appeal of alternative solutions drive diverse voter choices. Contrary to historical trends, crisis periods do not necessarily lead to a return to centrist stability but fuel the rise of populist narratives offering change and addressing public concerns.
As recent national elections in several European countries have shown, far-right voters no longer fit the stereotype of the angry, old white man, but now often include women, young people and even migrants.
In this episode we unpack what drives voters to abandon the mainstream and more traditional party loyalties for the far right, and how poverty, or fear of it, motivates typical supporters of the AfD in Germany, Geert Wilder's PVV in the Netherlands, or Chega in Portugal.
Host Sarah Wheaton is joined by POLITICO reporters Hanne Cokelaere, James Angelos and Aitor Hernandez-Morales, who were recently dispatched to countries where far-right parties are gaining ground ahead of June's European election.
Later on we have a fascinating conversation with Catherine de Vries, professor of political science and dean of international affairs at Bocconi University in Milan. Her research focuses on how economic hardship and problems with public services such as schools, health care or transport can fuel the far right.
