Populist Radical Right Parties in Action: The Survival of the Mass Party

Daniele Albertazzi (University of Surrey) and Stijn van Kessel (QMUL) present their recently published research monograph (Oxford University Press; co-authored with Adrian Favero, Niko Hatakka, Judith Sijstermans, Mattia Zulianello). This book investigates why and how several contemporary populist radical right parties (PRRPs) in Western Europe adopt the supposedly outdated mass party organizational model. Through an analysis of party structures and interviews with 125 PRRP elites and 100 active members, the book opens the black box of four populist radical right mass party organizations in Belgium, Finland, Italy, and Switzerland.

The study finds that party elites consider the mass party model advantageous to their party’s electoral goals, organizational functioning, and survival. In addition, the book shows how a collective sense of efficacy is key in keeping activist members motivated to invest time and effort in party activities, despite experiencing stigmatization and receiving few concrete benefits in return. Based on its findings, the book re-evaluates received wisdoms of party organization theory, and shows how traditional forms of party organization adapt to changing political contexts and communication environments.The presentation is followed by reflections provided by discussant Cora Lacatus (QMUL), a Q&A with the audience, and refreshments at the end.

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Host or Publisher Queen Mary, University of London