The populist radical right is one of the most studied political phenomena in the social sciences, counting hundreds of books and thousands of articles. This is the first reader to bring together the most seminal articles and book chapters on the contemporary populist radical right in western democracies. It has a broad regional and topical focus and includes work that has made an original theoretical contribution to the field, which make them less time-specific. The reader is organized in six thematic sections:
(1) ideology and issues;
(2) parties, organizations, and subcultures;
(3) leaders, members, and voters;
(4) causes;
(5) consequences; and
(6) responses.
Each section features a short introduction by the editor, which introduces and ties together the selected pieces and provides discussion questions and suggestions for further readings. The reader is ended with a conclusion in which the editor reflects on the future of the populist radical right in light of (more) recent political developments – most notably the Greek economic crisis and the refugee crisis – and suggest avenues for future research.
Preface
Introduction: The Populist Radical Right Today Cas Mudde
I - Ideology & Issues
1. Interregnum or Endgame? The Radical Right in the ‘Post-Fascist’ Era Roger Griffin
2. Party Ideology Elisabeth Carter
3. Against the Current-Stemming the Tide: The Nostalgic Ideology of the Contemporary Radical Populist Right Hans-Georg Betz and Carol Johnson
4. A New Winning Formula? The Programmatic Appeal of the Radical Right Sarah L. De Lange
5. The European Extreme-Right and Islam: New Directions? José Pedro Zúquete
6. European Integration and the Radical Right: Three Patterns of Opposition Sofia Vasilopoulou
II - Parties, Organizations and Subcultures
7. Right-Wing Extremism in Post-War Europe Klaus von Beyme
8. New Populist Parties in Europe Paul Taggart
9. Modern European Democracies and Its Enemies: The Threat of the Extreme Right Ami Pedahzur and Leonard Weinberg
10. Racist Extremism in Central and Eastern Europe Cas Mudde
11. Conservative and Right-Wing Movements Kathleen M. Blee and Kimberly A. Creasap
III - Leaders, Members & Voters
12. The Rebirth of Charisma? The Cases of Jean-Marie Le Pen and Vladimir Zhirinovsky Roger Eatwell
13. Extreme Right Activists: Recruitment and Experiences Bert Klandermans
14. Becoming a Racist: Women in Contemporary Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazi Groups Kathleen Blee
15. Electoral Sociology – Who Votes for the Extreme Right and Why – and When? Kai Arzheimer
16. The Radical Right Gender Gap Terri Givens
IV - Causes
17. The Silent Counter-Revolution: Hypotheses on the Emergence of Extreme Right-Wing Parties in Europe Piero Ignazi
18. The New Politics of Resentment: Radical Right-wing Populism in Western Europe Hans-Georg Betz
19. The Contemporary Radical Right: An Interpretative and Explanatory Framework Herbert Kitschelt (in collaboration with A.J. McGann)
20. The Radical Right in Postsocialist Central and Eastern Europe: Comparative Observations and Interpretations Michael Minkenberg
21. Ten Theories of the Extreme Right Roger Eatwell
22. The Populist Radical Right: A Pathological Normalcy Cas Mudde
V - Consequences
23. The Radical Right in Public Office: Agenda-Setting and Policy Effects Michael Minkenberg
24. The Extreme-Right and Immigration Policy-Making: Measuring Direct and Indirect Effects Martin A. Schain
25. Contagious Parties: Anti-Immigration Parties and Their Impact On Other Parties’ Immigration Stances in Contemporary Western Europe Joost van Spanje
26. Comparing Radical Right Parties in Government: Immigration and Integration Policies in Nine Countries (1996-2010) Tjitske Akkerman
27. Populism and Liberal Democracy: Populists in Government in Austria, Italy, Poland and Switzerland Daniele Albertazzi and Sean Mueller
28. Three Decades of Populist Radical Right Parties in Western Europe: So What? Cas Mudde
VI - Responses
29. Patterns of Response to the Extreme Right in Western Europe Jaap Van Donselaar
30. Between Adaptation, Differentiation and Distinction: Extreme Right-Wing Parties Within Democratic Political Systems Alexandre Dézé
31. Reacting to the Radical Right: Lessons from Germany and Austria David Art
32. New Alliances: Why Mainstream Parties Govern With Radical Right-Wing Populist Parties Sarah L. De Lange
Conclusion: Studying Populist Radical Right Parties and Politics in the 21st Century Cas Mudde
Biography
Cas Mudde is Associate Professor in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) at the University of Georgia, USA, and a Researcher at the Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX) at the University of Oslo, Norway.
"Cas Mudde offers an expert guidance to the current debates about the populist radical right. With its clear framework and comprehensive selection of key readings this book is essential reading for students and those new to the field."Tjitske Akkerman, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
"Cas Mudde has assembled the most important work on the populist radical right. Research that has collectively defined the research agenda. The manner in which Mudde presents them encapsulates not only the essential work that has already been done, but (perhaps most critically) it sets the stage for future research."
Andrej Zaslove, Radboud University, The Netherlands
"This reader is an ensemble of various views all important for an understanding of far right politics which cannot be understood by just following a traditional 'anti-fascist' approach. Cas Mudde’s book is a tool for academic teaching and a basis for further research, especially for a comparative perspective, beyond national case studies."
Anton Pelinka, Central European University, Budapest
"The reader is aimed at three audiences: scholars, students and activists. The first two are catered to more directly. The book would be a useful first stop for anyone embarking on research in this area. Students will benefit from the introductions to each section as well as discussion prompts and 'revision questions': the book could easily form the basis of a course on populism."
Andrew Reid is a PhD candidate in the Politics department at the University of Leicester, LSE Review of Books