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Mainstream conservative parties paved the way for far-right nationalism - A six-part series

December 2, 2019

Mainstream conservative parties paved the way for far-right nationalism - A six-part series

December 2, 2019
in Monkey Cage, The Washington Post

The following is a six-part series on far-right nationalism commissioned by The Washington Post's Monkey Cage. The series was the result of a conference organized by the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs (WCFIA) in 2018. It was edited by CES Resident Faculty Bart Bonikowski and Daniel Ziblatt.


Part 1 – Mainstream conservative parties paved the way for far-right nationalism. By Bart Bonikowski and Daniel Ziblatt

By talking up ethnic nationalism but not delivering, space was opened for the radical right. Read here.


Part 2 – Racially divisive parties have more voters now, but voters aren’t becoming more racist. What explains this? By Sheri Berman

Populists thrive when the mainstream left and right focus on identity politics. Read here.


Part 3 – Both the Democrats and Republicans were once white majority parties. Now race divides them. By Lilliana Mason

This creates challenges for racial diversity, but also opportunities. Read here.


Part 4 – Far-right voters don’t dislike government. They just want to keep its benefits for their own ethnic group. By Daphne Halikiopoulou and Sofia Vasilopoulou

The far right gains when citizens distrust the government. Read here.


Part 5 – Brexit shows how a tiny party can have big consequences. By Tim Bale

Nigel Farage's pro-Brexit parties forced the much bigger Conservative Party to live up to its rhetoric. Read here.


Part 6 – The E.U. is supposed to promote democracy. So why do anti-democratic politicians thrive within it? By R. Daniel Keleman

Party alliances, subsidies, and easy emigration all help soft authoritarians stay in power. Read here.


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