The appeal of national populism in Europe will grow

Subject

National populism in Europe.

Significance

A decade after the 2008-09 global financial crash, electoral trends have not reverted to pre-crash patterns while the appeal of national populism continues to rise. While economic insecurities explain some of the underlying support for populism, cultural insecurities offer a more comprehensive understanding of what unites populist voters and drives their politics.

Impacts

• Reducing inequalities between urban and rural areas and investing in apprenticeships will be a priority for governments.
• Countries such as Italy and Hungary, where anti-immigration politics is strongest, will undergo sharper levels of population decline.
• Accusations of xenophobia will entrench some national populists' sense that their views are ignored.
• Some governments may decide to offer financial incentives for larger families to increase the 'national' population.