A 2021 study by researchers Heike Klüver, Johannes Giesecke, and Lukas Stoetzer, featured in the Humboldt Governance Lab, addresses the question of why Europe has been facing a rapid rise in right-wing populist parties for over a decade.

Income Inequality Boosts Electoral Success of Populist Parties

The research team led by Prof. Heike Klüver demonstrates that income inequality fosters the electoral success of populist parties in Europe. The growing income inequality in Europe over the past decades has significantly contributed to the success of populists who promote an antagonistic view of society, pitting “ordinary people” against the “corrupt elite,” and who aim to implement the direct will of the citizens.

Current examples include the FPÖ in Austria or the AfD in Germany. Such parties are particularly known for their scapegoating rhetoric, blaming the elite – specifically established parties – and, in the case of right-wing populist parties, non-European migrants and other marginalized groups, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, for societal problems.

Exacerbation of Social Issues as Fertile Ground for Populists

Increasing income inequality significantly exacerbates societal problems, creating fertile ground for populist forces. These forces often respond to social tensions with simplistic, under-complex solutions, such as calls for the deportation of migrants, who are falsely portrayed as the cause of societal ills. In this way, they manage to win over insecure citizens or those with right-wing extremist tendencies.

Income Inequality Linked to Various Factors

According to the HU researchers, income inequality is closely linked to factors such as income insecurity, a lack of trust in political elites, and the extent of social integration. However, these elements only partially explain how income inequality can fuel the rise of (right-wing) populist forces.

A detailed review of existing studies shows that the respective influence of these factors on the success of (right-wing) populist movements is still not clearly determined. However, it has been found that citizens’ trust in political elites has a particularly strong influence on their likelihood of supporting populist parties.

The Link Between Income Inequality and Populism Likely Not Solely Explained by Economic Factors

This suggests that the link between income inequality and populism cannot be explained solely by economic factors. Instead, the scientific literature increasingly raises the question of whether cultural changes, such as shifts in societal values, might play an equally significant role in the rise of right-wing populist parties.

The Humboldt Governance Lab at Humboldt University Berlin was established by researchers to make the latest findings from political science accessible to the general public in an easily understandable way, thereby building bridges between science and politics as well as science and civil society.

A wide range of research projects on contemporary political phenomena are available on the platform at any time and provide valuable insights that can serve, for example, as decision-making tools for politicians.

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