The rise of populism has been described as “the revenge of the unimportant places.” But how do “places” shape support for populism? Based on new research, Kai Atzheimer and Teresa Berneman The geography of right-wing populism shows that it’s not just about where people live, but how they relate to their surroundings and to each other.
In recent years, the rise of the populist radical right has sparked fierce debate and concern around the world. This political shift has led researchers to delve into the myriad factors that fuel such sentiments. Among these, the concept of “place” has emerged as a central yet complex element in understanding (right-wing) populism.
But what exactly does “place” mean in this context, and how does it affect political attitudes toward nativism, right-wing authoritarianism, and populism? Fundamentally, “place” encompasses more than just a physical location on a map. It embodies a range of socio-political and cultural dimensions that can have a significant impact on an individual’s political views.
In our recent research, we have identified four key aspects of “place” that are important in shaping popular radical right attitudes. The first is “place-related attitudes,” which include localism, or the feeling that one belongs to one’s local area, and place anger, which refers to the feeling that one’s local area is marginalized or ignored by the wider society. The second is “place-specific living conditions,” which refer to the economic, social, and environmental conditions of a given place that can influence residents’ political views.
Third, there is the “socio-demographic composition” of a place. The composition of a community, including factors such as age, income, education, and ethnic background, plays a role in shaping political attitudes. Finally, there is the “indigenous character”. Every place has its own history and culture, which can contribute to the identity and sense of belonging of its residents.
Take a closer look at Germany
To understand how these aspects of “place” influence popular radical right sentiment, we turned to Germany, a country with a complex and often dark history, diverse regional identities, and a highly decentralized federal political system. Using detailed geocoded survey data collected just before the 2017 national elections, we found some interesting results.
First, we observed significant spatial variation in populist radical right attitudes across Germany, with certain regions (large parts of Saxony and Thuringia and parts of Bavaria) showing marked clustering. This suggests that radical right sentiment is not evenly distributed, but rather concentrated in certain regions.
Second, the socio-demographic composition of a place and the antipathy toward that place emerged as strong predictors of popular radical right sentiment. These factors have a significant impact on how individuals in different regions perceive and sympathize with popular radical right ideology. Similar patterns of (self-)sorting and geographic polarization have been observed in the United States.
Third, contrary to our expectations, regionalism (defined as a sense of belonging to a region) had a weaker effect on populist radical right attitudes than expected. Our analysis also found no significant interaction between regionalism and place animosity, indicating that these factors act independently to shape political attitudes.
Figure: Cluster map of populist radical right attitudes, regionalism and local resentment in Germany
Note: County-level data. See the authors’ attached paper for more details. European Political Science Review.
Fourth, the unique culture and history of a particular region did not directly influence populist radical right attitudes in our study. However, being located in the former East Germany (GDR) still plays a significant role in shaping political attitudes, highlighting the ongoing influence of historical and geopolitical context on the contemporary political landscape.
Finally, place-specific conditions such as economic deprivation, population decline, migration, and rurality appear to have a small or weak effect on populist radical right sentiments. This highlights the complexity of factors influencing political attitudes and the need for a nuanced understanding of how “place” shapes political sentiments. Our findings thus contribute to the broader discourse on the geography of radical right populism, providing valuable insights into how “place” influences right-wing political attitudes in Germany.
Meaning and Reflection
Our results challenge the notion that “non-essential places”—often overlooked or marginalized—are hotbeds of radical right-wing sentiments due to economic or demographic factors. Instead, a complex interplay of local identity, sociodemographic composition, and historical context shapes political attitudes. This highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the unique needs and concerns of diverse communities.
The geography of right-wing populism is not just about where people live, but also how they relate to their surroundings and each other. As we navigate the challenges of rising populism, understanding the subtle role of “place” can help foster more inclusive and responsive political conversations.
For further details, please see the authors’ attached paper. European Political Science Review
Note: This article presents the views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the position of EUROPP (European Politics and Policy) or the London School of Economics. Featured image source: Juergen Nowak / Shutterstock.com
