Abstract
Past research pointed to the idea that right-wing ideology and climate-change skepticism are inherently linked. Empirical reality proves differently however, since right-wing populist parties are starting to adapt pro environmentalist stances. In this paper, we look into two prominent cases of diametrical diverging environmental strategies by right-wing-populist-parties: France’s Rassemblement National and Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland. In order convey this point, we use comparative qualitative content analysis and examine several decisive determinants regarding environmental strategies of right-wing populist parties. We argue that right-wing-populism is remarkably adaptable considering political opportunity structures, even clustering in ideologically diametrical versions of the same issue while each party coherently extends its policy-orientation to its respective alignment of the issue. That means, populism might be far less ideological than assumed in the past.
Highlights
Zusammenfassung In der Vergangenheit wurde spekuliert, dass rechter Populismus und die Ablehnung gegenüber „Grüner Politik“ zunehmend konvergieren
We look into two prominent cases of diametrical diverging environmental strategies by right-wing-populist-parties: France’s Rassemblement National and Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland
By conceptualizing populism as a strategy, we argue that the endorsement of climate protection or the denial of climate change might be a result of strategic alignments promoted by a window of political opportunity
Summary
Zusammenfassung In der Vergangenheit wurde spekuliert, dass rechter Populismus und die Ablehnung gegenüber „Grüner Politik“ zunehmend konvergieren. Since Fridays for Future (FFF) has moved the danger of climate change up the agenda, right-wing populist parties (RWPs) in Europe, such as the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), have positioned themselves more prominently against pro-climate action—or rather against environmentalism more broadly. This is a seemingly obvious choice as movements like FFF and parties that promote policies like the Green Deal are typically located on the political left. Environmental issues may well be communicated in positive terms conducive to the right-wing agenda and are not necessarily rejected, though the reasons for doing so may be rather nuanced
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