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.
Table of Contents:
Preface
Introduction: The Populist Radical Right Today
I - Ideology & Issues
1. Interregnum or Endgame? The Radical Right in the ‘Post-Fascist’ Era
2. Party Ideology
3. Against the Current-Stemming the Tide: The Nostalgic Ideology of the Contemporary Radical Populist Right
4. A New Winning Formula? The Programmatic Appeal of the Radical Right
5. The European Extreme-Right and Islam: New Directions?
6. European Integration and the Radical Right: Three Patterns of Opposition
II - Parties, Organizations and Subcultures
7. Right-Wing Extremism in Post-War Europe
8. New Populist Parties in Europe
9. Modern European Democracies and Its Enemies: The Threat of the Extreme Right
10. Racist Extremism in Central and Eastern Europe
11. Conservative and Right-Wing Movements
III - Leaders, Members & Voters
12. The Rebirth of Charisma? The Cases of Jean-Marie Le Pen and Vladimir Zhirinovsky
13. Extreme Right Activists: Recruitment and Experiences
14. Becoming a Racist: Women in Contemporary Ku Klux Klan and Neo-Nazi Groups
15. Electoral Sociology – Who Votes for the Extreme Right and Why – and When?
16. The Radical Right Gender Gap
IV - Causes
17. The Silent Counter-Revolution: Hypotheses on the Emergence of Extreme Right-Wing Parties in Europe
18. The New Politics of Resentment: Radical Right-wing Populism in Western Europe 19. The Contemporary Radical Right: An Interpretative and Explanatory Framework
20. The Radical Right in Postsocialist Central and Eastern Europe: Comparative Observations and Interpretations
21. Ten Theories of the Extreme Right
22. The Populist Radical Right: A Pathological Normalcy
V - Consequences23. The Radical Right in Public Office: Agenda-Setting and Policy Effects
24. The Extreme-Right and Immigration Policy-Making: Measuring Direct and Indirect Effects
25. Contagious Parties: Anti-Immigration Parties and Their Impact On Other Parties’ Immigration Stances in Contemporary Western Europe
26. Comparing Radical Right Parties in Government: Immigration and Integration Policies in Nine Countries (1996-2010)
27. Populism and Liberal Democracy: Populists in Government in Austria, Italy, Poland and Switzerland
28. Three Decades of Populist Radical Right Parties in Western Europe: So What?
VI - Responses29. Patterns of Response to the Extreme Right in Western Europe
30. Between Adaptation, Differentiation and Distinction: Extreme Right-Wing Parties Within Democratic Political Systems
31. Reacting to the Radical Right: Lessons from Germany and Austria 32. New Alliances: Why Mainstream Parties Govern With Radical Right-Wing Populist Parties
Conclusion: Studying Populist Radical Right Parties and Politics in the 21st Century
About the Author :
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.
Review :
"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
