Introduction: How the Failed Political Messaging of Moderate Political Actors Strengthens Populist Radical Right Parties

Abstract

The introductory chapter outlines why many widespread explanations for the rise of populist radical right parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) are misleading. Their rise and fall can hardly be accounted for by historical particularities or under the auspices of socio-economic variables. Instead, the key explanatory variable lies with the supply side of political competition: the interaction of and political messaging by established, moderate parties in salient debates about identity politics. Whether or not populist radical right parties succeed depends on whether and how immigration and EU issues are politicized and framed by conservatives and social democrats. The chapter concludes with an outline of the structure of the study and advice on how it could be read.