Right-wing populism as a strategic challenge for the center
The study “Between Exclusion, Co-optation and Toleration” examines, on the basis of ten European case studies (Finland, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Spain, Czech Republic), the strategies of European People’s Party (EPP) member parties in dealing with right-wing populist and far-right forces. Starting from the observation that right-wing populist parties have become established actors in most European countries and are increasingly posing new challenges to German politics as well, the publication draws a differentiated picture: not all right-wing populist parties pursue the same goals; they vary considerably in their ideological orientation, degree of radicalisation, and willingness to cooperate with the political centre.
Strategies in European comparison
The case studies show that neither strict exclusion nor unconditional inclusion alone guarantee success. While temporary government participation of right-wing populist parties in Italy led to a certain moderation, similar strategies in Finland and Austria have not produced the same results. In France, the republican front against the Rassemblement National increasingly proved counterproductive. Spain and the Netherlands rely on selective, strongly conditional cooperation, in which right-wing populist partners usually lose visibility. Greece and Sweden demonstrate that clear substantive leadership and controlled forms of toleration can safeguard the capacity of the centre to act, though they also entail risks.
Typology of right-wing populist parties
On this basis, the study develops a typology of right-wing populist and far-right parties:
(1) authoritarian right-wing populist or far-right anti-system parties;
(2) nationalist right-wing populist parties with ambivalent attitudes toward democracy and the EU; (3) moderate right-wing populist and conservative parties that operate within the democratic framework and are capable of cooperation.
Recommendations for action for centre-right parties
Successful strategies for centre-right parties lie in clear demarcation from system-oppositional forces, in the credible engagement of populist voter groups, and in thematic leadership on security, migration and socio-political issues. The study concludes that there is no universal recipe for success, but rather instructive best-practice examples that can provide guidance for dealing with right-wing populism.
