Overview
The 2014 European Parliament elections were hailed as a “populist earthquake” with parties like the French Front National, UKIP and the Danish People’s Party topping the polls in their countries and commentators warning about the consequences of a large radical right populist bloc in the Parliament. But what happened after those elections?
Based on policy positions, voting data, and interviews conducted over five years with senior figures from fourteen radical right populist parties and their main partners, this is the first major study to explain these parties’ actions and alliances in the European Parliament.
International Populism answers three key questions: Why have radical right populists, unlike other ideological party types, long been divided in the European Parliament? Why, although divisions persist, are many of them now more united than ever? And how does all of this inform our understanding of the European populist radical right today?
Arguing that these parties have entered a new international and transnational phase, with some attempting to be “respectable radicals” while others have instead embraced their shared populism, the book sheds new light on the past, present and future of one of the most important political phenomena of twenty-first-century Europe.
Praise & Reviews
“Highly original, interesting and accessible. McDonnell and Werner have produced the first comparative study of the most important form of international collaboration of populist radical right parties: groups within the European Parliament.” — Cas Mudde, University of Georgia.
“Simply the most comprehensive and compelling work on the radical right at the European level. Theoretically elegant, grounded in rich empirical scholarship, methodologically balanced, and well written: a must-read for anyone interested in international radical right cooperation.” — Reinhard Heinisch, University of Salzburg.
“This book is ambitious, compelling and well-executed, challenging the common wisdom that, ultimately, these parties can’t cooperate and communicating that message in reader-friendly prose.” — Tim Bale, Queen Mary, University of London.
“This excellent book, written by two leading researchers on populist parties, is on the cutting edge of the new ‘international’ turn in populism studies. It is a significant contribution to a new research agenda that focuses on the international dimensions.” — Christopher Bickerton, University of Cambridge.
“An excellent addition to the literature on populism” — CHOICE.
“This research is a very timely contribution which raises important questions on the international strategies and co-operation of radical right parties” – Nathalie Brack, Party Politics.
“This book is an enjoyable must-read for anyone interested in the politics of populist radical right parties” – Francesca Feo, European Political Science.
“Radical right populist parties have often become relevant in the politics of their countries through a first success in European Parliament elections. In this impressive book, Duncan McDonnell and Annika Werner analyze the success of RRPS in making the most of this opportunity.” – Giacomo Benedetto, Journal of Common Market Studies.
“This book is an excellent contribution to the study of RRP parties. Scholars of the radical right will find the book thought-provoking, as it offers rigour and insights, but it is nevertheless accessible for university students and the general public.” – Micaela Musacchio Strigone, Political Studies Review.
“McDonnell and Werner’s research, based on a number of remarkably frank and open interviews with PRR politicians and officials in Brussels and national capitals, reconstructs the complex decision processes of these parties as they approve some associations while shunning others.” – Angelos Chryssogelos, Journal of European Integration.