A thickened demand for populism: comparison of voters’ attitudes in CEE and Western Europe

Abstract

ABSTRACT Central and Eastern European (CEE) public has the lowest level of political trust in the EU, is sceptical about democracy, is more open to welfarism, but not to gender equality. The article presents evidence for a difference in demand for populism between the West and CEE, with the following findings. Populist voters in CEE have a higher level of trust in their political representatives and actively participate in political rallies, despite a tendency to refrain from following political news. The anti-immigration sentiment is less determinant, while the pro-welfarist stance exerts a stronger influence on the populist vote in the CEE than in the West. Hence, in contrast to the post-austerity, reactionary nature of populism in the West, populism in CEE is more solidified due to the legacies of communism and the transition.