Globalization, institutions of social solidarity, and radical right-wing populism in Western Europe

Abstract

We rejoin the question of whether globalization contributes to the electoral success of the radical populist right in Western Europe. We also advance and test the hypothesis that institutions of social solidarity directly weaken support for the radical right and moderate the electoral impact of globalization. In empirical analysis of national elections in 16 European polities from 1981 to 2015, we find that merchandise imports from developing nations, capital mobility, and, especially, inflows of refugees and asylum seekers are positively associated with the radical right-wing populist party vote. In addition, a universalistic welfare state directly depresses the vote for radical right-wing populist parties and conditions the linkages between immigration on the one hand, and electoral support for the radical populist right on the other. We also find that employment protection laws and encompassing, centralized union movements mitigate the positive effects of economic globalization and immigration on national vote shares of right-wing populist parties. In conclusion, we consider our findings’ implications for understanding the domestic political effects of globalization and sources of right-wing populism. We also reflect on the potentially significant, indirect effect of globalization on political instability that comes through international liberalization’s adverse impacts on institutions of social solidarity