Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5567-7531
Date of Award
5-6-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Political Science
First Advisor
Jennifer McCoy
Second Advisor
Charles R. Hankla
Third Advisor
Carrie Lynn Manning
Abstract
The past decade witnessed the abrupt rise in power of populist parties in several European countries, particularly since the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. The surge of populism exacerbated the economic situation and destabilized the political system in several governments nudging scholars of social sciences and politicians to explain the reasons behind the success of populist parties. One of the most recurrent explanations of the increased rise of populist parties in Southern Europe is related to the economic and cultural grievances argument. However, when examining Southern European countries: Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal, my research shows that each country exhibited different populist outcomes. This study seeks to examine the effects that de-institutionalized party systems and populist legacies have on explaining the success of populist parties in Southern Europe. This dissertation will also assess the role of social grievances in the surge of distinctive types of populist parties.
In this research, the concept of successful populist parties is re-conceptualized. My goals are threefold. First, I seek to highlight the importance of de-institutionalized party systems and the role they play in the success of future populist parties. Second, I illustrate the vital role that populist legacies play on the triumph of new populist challengers and the change that they implement within the political culture and institutions. Finally, considering the variation and dissimilarities within each comparative case study in terms of political institutionalization, democratization, and political culture, I compare the effects of social grievance on explaining the type of populism that is more likely to gain the majority of popular support.
This study shows that a de-institutionalized party system opens the door for the success of populist parties. Content analysis and data also show that a populist legacy in a country facilitates the success of future populist challengers. Finally, I found evidence that social grievances in a country determine the type of populism that is most likely to prevail. In fact, countries with prevalent socio-economic grievances (i.e., Greece and Spain) witnessed the dominance of left populism. In Portugal, despite the prevalence of socio-economic grievances due to the 2008 financial crisis, the weak mobilizing power of populist political leaders resulted in the lack of populism.
However, when a country witnesses both socio-economic and cultural grievances (i.e., Italy) a new type of populism can emerge. This type of ‘valence’ populism does not fit within the traditional right-left spectrum, instead it tends to assume a moderate/ambiguous position on both left and right policies.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/36949875
Recommended Citation
Ali El Sayed Matwly, Sara, "Populism in Southern Europe: The Role of Individual National Characteristics in Explaining Cross-National Variation of Populist Outcomes." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/36949875
File Upload Confirmation
1