Abstract
The recent rise of populist parties across Europe has attracted much attention. But is this a new phenomenon? In this article, we argue that populist parties can be seen as a type of challenger parties, that is, political entrepreneurs without government experience seeking to disrupt the dominance of mainstream parties. We discuss how ongoing changes in European party systems compares with previous waves of challenger parties, including social democratic and green parties. We then present the core strategies used by successful challengers, namely issue entrepreneurship and anti-establishment rhetoric, as they mobilize issues that gives them an electoral advantage and attack the competence of the established political parties. Finally, we consider what the rise of challenger parties may mean for democracy in Europe. 1
Highlights
Populist parties are on the rise across Europe, and the familiar patterns of European politics are undergoing radical change
The election became a contest between two challengers: Emmanuel Macron and his newly formed La Republique En Marche! party and Marine Le Pen of the radical right-wing National Rally
In this article we argue that, while populism is a distinct political phenomenon, most populist parties can be classified within a broader category of ‘challenger parties’
Summary
Populist parties are on the rise across Europe, and the familiar patterns of European politics are undergoing radical change. Challenger parties are most likely to break through when they employ a twofold innovation strategy: (1) they introduce issues that can drive a wedge between established coalitions and within dominant parties, something we call issue entrepreneurship, and (2) they use anti-establishment rhetoric to weaken the competence advantage of established parties.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
