Radical right-wing populist parties, such as Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom, Marine Le Pen’s National Front or Nigel Farage’s UKIP, are becoming increasingly influential in Western European democracies. Their electoral support is growing, their impact on policy-making is substantial, and in recent years several radical right-wing populist parties have assumed office or supported minority governments.

In this talk Sarah de Lange addresses these developments, and examines what they mean for liberal democracy. She will focus especially on the Dutch case, as the elections in the Netherlands, which Wilders’ PVV predicted to win, take place on March 15.

Sarah L. de Lange is Professor by special appointment at the Department of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. Since 2016 she holds the Dr. J.M. Den Uyl chair, a chair established by the Wiardi Beckman Foundation. In recent years she has especially focused on the emergence and impact of populist parties in Western democracies. Her latest book entitled Radical Right-Wing Populist Parties in Western Europe: Into the Mainstream? has just appeared with Routledge.

Image: Radical right (Europe) A 2015 demonstration of Germanradical right group Pegida (Wikimedia Commons)

This event is organised by the Europe and the World Centre

For further information about the event please contact Prof. Erika Harris e.harris@liverpool.ac.uk