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The New Internationalists: How the Populist Radical Right Drives Support for International Economic Integration

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Abstract

Populist radical right (PRR) parties have become increasingly electorally successful in Europe over the past decade. These parties frequently campaign on platforms that emphasize their opposition to international economic integration (free trade, European integration, and immigration). At the same time, however, public opinion surveys suggest that Europeans are becoming more supportive of international economic integration. How can we explain these diverging trends? This dissertation argues that the growing popularity of PRR parties produces an increase in support for international economic integration in Western Europe. As PRR parties and their anti-internationalism become more prominent in public discourse, so do their extremist tendencies. Party strategies and media incentives combine to create a growing association between anti-internationalism and right-wing extremism in public discourse. As a result, individuals who reject the extremism associated with PRR parties increasingly adjust their attitudes to become more supportive of international economic integration. Evidence drawn from a cross-national media and survey analysis, an unexpected event during survey design, and elite interviews supports this argument. My research suggests that, under the right political circumstances, the electoral backlash against globalization can be counter-balanced by rising internationalism.

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211 pages

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Date Issued

2022-08

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Keywords

European Union; immigration; political parties; populist radical right; public opinion

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Union Local

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Committee Chair

Pepinsky, Thomas

Committee Co-Chair

Committee Member

Katzenstein, Peter Joachim
Kirshner, Jonathan David
Cirone, Alexandra E.

Degree Discipline

Government

Degree Name

Ph. D., Government

Degree Level

Doctor of Philosophy

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Government Document

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Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

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dissertation or thesis

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