Right-Wing Populist Party Organisation Across Europe: The Survival of the Mass-Party? Conclusion to the Thematic Issue

Stijn Van Kessel,Daniele Albertazzi

doi:10.17645/pag.v9i4.5003

Stijn Van Kessel, Daniele Albertazzi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.v9i4.5003

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Abstract

This article provides a comparative conclusion to the thematic issue on the organisational characteristics of 12 right-wing populist parties (RWPPs) across Europe. We observe that many RWPPs—at least partially—adopt features of the mass party model. This finding illustrates the ideological aspects behind organisational choices: For populist parties, in particular, it is important to signal societal rootedness and “closeness to the people.” It furthermore challenges the idea that there is a one-way teleological movement towards more lean, electoral-professional kinds of party organisation. At the same time, the case studies clearly illustrate that RWPP leaders and executives continue to exercise great power over their members, who are essentially offered “participation without power.”

Highlights

By means of 12 case studies, this thematic issue has analysed how right‐wing populist parties (RWPPs) across Europe organise themselves
In the context of declining party membership and perceived elite disengagement from grassroots politics, several scholars have announced the demise of the mass party model and a shift towards, for instance, “catch‐all” (Kirchheimer, 1966) and “cartel” (Katz & Mair, 1995) par‐ ties
The adoption of mass party characteristics by several RWPPs, in particular, suggests that it may be too soon to herald the end of this party model

Summary

Introduction

By means of 12 case studies, this thematic issue has analysed how right‐wing populist parties (RWPPs) across Europe organise themselves. Bearing in mind that mass parties offer participation to members, but not necessarily meaningful influence (Duverger, 1951; Michels, 1962), the contributions examined whether the selected RWPPs remained centralised in terms of their decision‐making procedures, and whether oppor‐ tunities were provided to members to shape their par‐ ties’ direction and ideology. This concluding article high‐ lights the key comparative findings from the 12 preced‐ ing articles

The Survival of the Mass Party Amongst Right‐Wing Populist Parties?

Centralisation of Power in RWPPs

Conclusions