Abstract
Radical right parties have become an established force in European democracies. Whereas 20 years ago they were still a marginal phenomenon in many countries, today they sit in parliaments and governments. In some countries, they are the strongest party. To explain this rapid increase in their popularity, it is necessary to consider the behavior of other parties. Established parties to the right and left of the political center have responded to the successes of the radical right by positioning themselves more strongly against migration. This strategic realignment has not led to winning back voters from the radical right. Instead, it has led the public, first, to change their position and make the issue of migration more salient and, second, to normalize radical right parties. A self-reinforcing cycle emerges to the benefit of the radical right.
Speaker
Tarik Abou-Chadi - University of Oxford is a Professor of European Politics at the University of Oxford and Professorial Fellow at Nuffield College, with a PhD from Humboldt University Berlin and previous experience at the University of Zurich.