Radical Right-Wing Populism In Western Europe

During the past several years, society and politics in Western Europe have entered a period of extraordinary turbulence and dramatic change. Alarming levels of mass unemployment, waves of violent skin-head and neo-nazi attacks against socially vulnerable groups, and widespread public disaffection with the political system are symptoms of severe crisis in the post-war Western European settlement. Radical populist right parties have benefitted more from this crisis than any other political group. Largely relegated to the fringes of Western European politics in the post-war period, right-wing radical and extremist parties have made an impressive comeback to become one of the most significant political phenomena of the 1990s. Radical Right-Wing Populism in Western Europe offers a comprehensive analysis of the ideologies and programs of these parties, the factors that have contributed to their emergence, and their electoral base. Drawing on a wide range of empirical evidence from eight countries, the author concludes that given the magnitude of the economic, social, and cultural transformation confronting Western Europe's public (and the depth of the malaise that it has engendered), radical right-wing populist parties are bound to play a significant role in West European politics for the foreseeable future.

During the past several years, society and politics in Western Europe have entered a period of extraordinary turbulence and dramatic change. Alarming levels of mass unemployment, waves of violent skin-head and neo-nazi attacks against socially vulnerable groups, and widespread public disaffection with the political system are symptoms of severe crisis in the post-war Western European settlement. Radical populist right parties have benefitted more from this crisis than any other political group. Largely relegated to the fringes of Western European politics in the post-war period, right-wing radical and extremist parties have made an impressive comeback to become one of the most significant political phenomena of the 1990s. Radical Right-Wing Populism in Western Europe offers a comprehensive analysis of the ideologies and programs of these parties, the factors that have contributed to their emergence, and their electoral base. Drawing on a wide range of empirical evidence from eight countries, the author concludes that given the magnitude of the economic, social, and cultural transformation confronting Western Europe's public (and the depth of the malaise that it has engendered), radical right-wing populist parties are bound to play a significant role in West European politics for the foreseeable future.

Hans-Georg Betz is Associate Professor of European Studies at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.