Vox in Spain: Similarities and differences with the far-right family

Abstract

Vox is a relatively new Spanish political party, founded in 2013. However, it was not until more than 5 years later that the party achieved any form of political representation at the national, local, and regional levels. Since its electoral breakthrough in the general elections of April 2019, numerous academics have debated Vox’s ideological orientation. Specifically, the discussion has centered on the extent to which Vox aligns with the political family of populist radical right parties. This study engages with this academic debate and seeks to examine the characteristics that define Vox’s current political stance. To this end, the article analyzes two key concepts within the Spanish radical right: the ‘Iberosphere’ and ‘Hispanic nativism’. The examination of these concepts provides insight into Vox’s role as a bridge between radical right parties on both sides of the Atlantic. Furthermore, in the case of the Spanish party, it reveals a strategic trajectory that is highly atypical within the populist radical right parties. Overall, this analysis helps to refine and deepen the understanding of both Vox’s ideological positioning and its strategic role within the broader context of the Western radical right.