Abstract

The rise of populism has been a matter of concern for academics and media commentators alike; yet the phenomenon remains poorly understood. What is populism, and how should we address it? Arguably the hottest PhD topic in town, this talk considers possible explanations behind the success and failure of the populist right in Europe (and beyond). While right-wing populist parties have been successful in rallying broad public support in some European countries (e.g. Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden), they have failed to do so in others (such as Ireland, Spain and Luxembourg). In an attempt to shed light on the variation in the electoral fortunes of the populist right, this presentation discusses different factors that may impede of facilitate the electoral success of these parties, including the role of media, the importance of charismatic leaders and the setup of electoral systems.