By Chenuka Elwitigala
Introduction to Right-Wing Populism
Right-wing populism refers to the political ideology which unifies right-wing politics with the populist rhetoric often dubbed as right-wing nationalism. This rhetoric often reflects the anti-establishment sentiment in politics objecting to the elite capture of power in government and opposing establishment media escalating disconnection from the real people and such elites. A key element of European right-wing populism is its harsh stance on immigration, perceiving it as a threat to national security, fueled by Euroscepticism and Islamophobia.
Thomas Greven’s report portrays the narrative of “Us versus Them” and “West versus the rest” often resembling Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations. These movements frame migrants’ interests against those of a homogenous majority. Despite their efforts to expand the welfare states to its citizens, they often cut off benefits to undocumented migrants. Yet, Greven does not necessarily identify right-wing populists as extremists despite the establishment politicians and the legacy media often labelling such parties as racist, xenophobic, extremist, fascist, and neo-Nazis.
This ideology often resembles authoritarian tendencies as it advocates strong leadership centered around an individual who embodies the people’s will to protect the homeland from perceived threats. It is associated with conservative cultural values and identity, often opposing multiculturalism and inclusive policies. Economic policies often reflect protectionist measures pushing back against globalization and welfare chauvinism which provide welfare only for the natives. Anti-environmentalism remains another factor often rejecting green energy projects.
Historical and theoretical background
Populism has its roots in early movements like the Russian Narodnik. Yet, right-wing populism emerged in the 1990s in multiple legislatures of various European democracies such as Denmark and Norway to counter the welfare state and the rising immigration. Discontent with the economic policies of the orthodox political parties leading to the Great Recession became a significant driver in post-communist countries such as Poland and Hungary.
A new wave was triggered by the 9/11 attacks when populist parties such as the National Rally in France, League in Italy, Dutch Pim Fortuyn List and Brexit Party in the United Kingdom embodied nationalism and Islamophobia to crack down immigration and portray themselves as defenders of liberal democracies.
The 2016 Brexit vote spearheaded by the Brexit Party under Nigel Farage remains a sensational moment in politics amplifying right-wing populist narratives reflecting the opposition towards European integration as well as defending national sovereignty.
Despite populism often being alluded to right-wing politics, it remains within the left-wing ideologies as a form of expression to rally individuals against economic inequalities, anti-capitalism, and social justice while championing welfare policies and minority rights.
Drivers of the growth
One of the main drivers of the right-wing populist movement is economic grievances such as job insecurity and welfare provisions. The 2008 financial crisis eroded public trust in the established parties and institutions fueling resentment. This sentiment of being left out is exploited by the populists to blame globalization and austerity measures.
Rapid growth in immigration has triggered fears as it leads to changes in the demographics of nations. This is identified as an existential threat to national security and identity. Right-wing populists often frame this in the “us vs them” rhetoric exacerbating the divisions.
According to Chantal Mouffe, the failures of the orthodox parties to provide feasible solutions fostered a breeding ground for the right-wing movement in politics.
The victory of US President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2024 and the rise of the MAGA movement rejuvenated this populist movement, creating a domino effect within Europe.
According to Greven, another significant driver of the growth is the strategic communication utilized by these parties, especially the tactical use of negativity in political communication. Media platforms enabled these populists to bypass legacy media gatekeepers and engage with the audience directly. Additionally, the influence by the right-wing content creators such as Charlie Kirk, Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon in the United States as well as Tommy Robinson in the UK, Naomi Seibt in Germany, Fidias in Cyprus, enabled the youth to instigate right-wing agendas.
Key Actors and Movements
Annalisa Merelli in her article highlights that right-wing populism is spreading fast among the continent and identifies it as not monolithic, reflecting different variants in different countries while common elements such as nationalist traits, authoritarian tendencies, leader centric approach remain unchanged.
The most electorally successful among the right-wing populist parties is Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the United Kingdom. Within a span of one year, it has a platform superseding every traditional party which dominated UK politics for centuries. Their main rhetoric is to attack the failed border protection policies from the government and to advocate to crack down on illegal migration crossings from the English Channel. Farage in their Operation Restoring Justice program launch stated that “If you come to the UK illegally, you will be detained, deported, and never ever allowed to stay. period.”
Despite the opposition towards illegal migration, they do not oppose legal migration on merit bases such as academics, skilled workers, and investors. They also focus on industry specific migration as well. A key narrative of the party is making Britain proud and great again by kindling patriotic values in the citizens often resembling Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Germany’s Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) under Alice Weidel has become a central player in German politics surging through electoral victories. Its core message is strict immigration policies with a nationalist sentiment. The party is driven by Euroscepticism and opposition to EU policies.
The National Rally party under Marine Le Pen rebranded to distance itself from its far-right history and softened its image while retaining strong nationalist and anti-immigration positions. The party opposes globalization, multiculturalism and even floated the idea of leaving NATO and reforming the EU.
Viktor Orbán transformed Fidesz into a right-wing populist force emphasizing national sovereignty, anti-immigration policies, and social conservatism. Netherlands with Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom withdrawing from the government to force snap elections indicates ongoing volatility. Another notable development is the victory of the Polish Presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki backed by the populist Law and Justice Party (PiS) narrowly clinching the presidency.
Thomas Greven explored the difference between the US & European populism based on political history, system, and culture yet united in taking down the corrupt political class to replace it with a government of the people.
Electoral impact
According to Merelli, democracies all over the world have turned toward the right by electing representatives from such right-wing populist parties. For the first time in history, major right-wing populist parties such as Reform UK, AfD and National Rally are leading in the national polls simultaneously, signaling a significant shift in the European political landscape.
Reform UK under Farage has dramatically risen to challenge the traditional two-party system in the UK. As of 2025, polls project Reform UK to emerge as the largest party in the UK House of Commons with an estimated 300+ seats. The party has steadily gained parliamentary representation by winning its fifth seat and defeating Labor in one of its historical strongholds. The local elections in 2025 displayed the grassroot rise of Reform UK as it placed first in terms of seats and took control of ten local authorities and two mayoralties.
In the 2025 German federal election, AfD managed to double its vote share from previous years to 20.8%, emerging as the second-largest party in the Bundestag with 152 seats. East German states remain as AfD’s strongholds while making significant gains in western regions too.
Marine Le Pen led the party through significant electoral gains in 2017 and 2022, as she reached the presidential second round, achieving historic 33.9% and 41.45% vote shares, respectively. It also expanded its parliamentary seats from 7 to 89 in 2022 cementing its influence.
Critiques and Counter-Movements
The unprecedented popularity of these right-wing populist parties is met with extensive criticism and active counter-movements from scholars, civil society, political opponents, and European institutions citing concerns over liberal democratic norms and human rights.
The AfD has been classified by German intelligence as “right-wing extremist,” reflecting concerns over radical elements within its rhetoric. Despite its electoral successes, the AfD remains isolated in the legislature, as traditional parties refuse coalition cooperation, limiting its direct influence on governance.
Marine Le Pen’s conviction of embezzling EU funds led to a four-year sentence in prison and a five-year ban from running for public office, barring her from the 2027 presidential election. Despite the legal showdown, Jordan Bardella’s succession as party leader in 2022 was seen as a move to appeal to younger voters.
The influential nature of the right-wing populist parties has made center-right and even left-wing parties adopt tougher stances on immigration and security to compete, exemplified by UK Labor’s rhetoric and policy moves supporting stricter immigration control.
Right-wing populism has moved from margins to mainstream, reshaping Europe’s political and legal landscapes. Its rise poses a threat to European democracies and the rule of law while fueling polarization. Despite it being too soon to judge the outcomes of these parties, as they are yet to consolidate power, its impact on democratic principles and national sovereignty should be monitored closely.
Chenuka Elwitigala is a first-year undergraduate pursuing a dual academic path: Politics and International Relations through the University of London degree program at Royal Institute Colombo, alongside Law studies at the University of Colombo. He can be reached through chenukaelwitigala45@gmail.com
Factum is an Asia-Pacific-focused think tank on International Relations, Tech Cooperation, and Strategic Communications accessible via www.factum.lk.
The views expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the organizations.
