The Effect of Xenophobia on Voter Support for Parties of the Extreme Right in Western Europe: A Macro-Level Analysis

Abstract This project assesses how xenophobia within a population translates to support for parties of the extreme right in Western Europe. Extreme right parties have experienced a dramatic rise in support at the polls with both the prominence of post-material values in voter decision-making and the party dealignment. They represent Western Europe at its most volatile: the extreme right echoes salient concerns about a stagnating economy and increasing multiculturalism. The party family staunchly opposes immigrants and minorities, blaming them for much of Europe’s domestic strife. Extreme right rhetoric is wrought with xenophobic sentiment. How does the key attitudinal variable of xenophobia affect voter support for parties of the extreme right on the macro-level? Using data from Eurobarometer 53, a survey posing questions regarding Western European citizens’ attitudes, and controlling for other variables postulated in the literature to be affecters to support for the extreme right, we quantitatively assess the relationship between xenophobia and vote share for parties of the extreme right in Western European democracies. Although not as powerful an affecter as immigration, xenophobia is demonstrated to be an important causal determinant to voter support for parties of the extreme right.