The Rise of Populist Parties in Europe: The Dark Side of Globalisation and Technological Change?

Is the increasing strength of populist parties due to economic causes?

Globalisation may have increased prosperity in general, but has also led to unemployment, wage inequality, outward migration and, thus, ageing populations in many European regions. The IWH and its partners are examining whether these economic burdens have helped to cause this upturn in populism. An extensive causal analysis will show to what extent economic hardship leads to votes for populist parties. To obtain conclusive results, the researchers analyse the correlations for several European countries. This will include central and eastern European states, in particular.

The research project aims to enrich the debate, in which populism is primarily interpreted as a cultural backlash to liberalisation, open borders and migration. In addition, the results can yield important political recommendations.

IWH press release on the occasion of the project's announcement

Project information provided by the Volkswagen Foundation