Introduction

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Opposing Populist Parties in Europe discusses challenges of studying opposition to contemporary populist parties, shortcomings of existing approaches, and a new model of democratic defence as ‘normal politics’. ‘Militant democracy’ and ‘democratic defence’ approaches for studying responses to those challenging the liberal democratic status quo tend to focus on exclusionary, rights-restricting responses by public authorities and party-political responses such as ostracism, policy cooptation, and collaboration in government. While suited for studying responses to relatively small, extremist parties, with little chance of governing alone, a different lens is needed for larger and governing populist parties. Additionally, existing approaches generally fail to acknowledge the ambiguity of populist orientations to democracy. democratic defence as normal politics builds on earlier approaches but also focuses attention on international and civil society responses, and emphasizes routine or ordinary repertoires of opposition in democratic societies, including use of constitutional checks and balances, public protest, and negative framing.