Suchergebnisse

Mainstream parties, like PiS in Poland, have to cater to broad segments of society to sustain broad support. Cultivation of populist radical right ideologies of authoritarianism, traditionalism, religiosity, and nativism—all interlaced with gender as a nemesis and the nation as a deity—takes highly motivated, confrontational politicians who prepare the ground for radical populist ideas to take root in the electorate's minds, who mobilize voters through radicalization. This article introduces the concept of "populist skirmishers" to the literature on populism, adding this to Cas Mudde's basket of major mobilizing forces of populism, that is, a populist leader, a social movement, and a political party. Though it might be considered an unnecessary elevation of a profession that perverts the rules of civility in the public sphere, polarizes electorates, and does whatever it takes to derail the project of European integration, I argue that understanding the modus operandi and functions of populist skirmishers is indispensable to furthering our understanding of populism.

Founded just five years ago, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) represents
the biggest opposition party in the German parliament. This article
addresses three questions in European comparative perspective: What is the
nature of the AfD as a relevant political party in the Bundestag? What explains
its rise and popularity? What is the party's behavior and impact in parliament,
and on German politics in general? Examining platforms, the article first identifies
programmatic and ideological shifts that have turned the AfD from a single
issue anti-Euro party into the first radical right-wing (populist) party in parliament
since the Nazi era. Second, voter analyses suggest that the AfD's political
radicalization has not undermined but increased its appeal. Third, the robust
electoral support for radical positions makes it likely that the party seeks to further
deepen political conflicts. Behavior in parliament shows that the party follows
its European counterparts' polarizing strategic orientations, reinforcing the
Europeanization of a nativist sociocultural "counter-revolution."