CARR Research Insight Series: The Emotional Underpinnings of Populist Radical Right Mobilization

The Emotional Underpinnings of Radical Right Populist Mobilization: Explaining the Protracted Success of Radical Right-Wing Parties

Hans-Georg Betz

In the second CARR Research Insight, Hans-Georg Betz considers the success of radical right-wing populist parties in Western Europe. Many of which were once considered ‘flash’ parties, they are now part of the political establishment. Betz explores how these parties stay in power, offering a combination of anti-establishment rhetoric (i.e. populism) and exclusionary policies (i.e. nativism). Further added to this are how radical right-wing populist parties evoke strong emotions in response to large scale structural changes. Betz concludes by exploring how these parties ultimately fail to meet the needs of their constituents.

Keywords: radical right-wing, populism, nativism, parties, Western Europe

Read the report here.