Demographic Changes, Far Right Parties, and Political Attitudes

• In Event: Political Preferences and Public Opinion in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

Far right parties seek to create a political system with a strict order developed around natural differences in society. There is ample evidence from multiples countries and regions in the world showing how immigration can electorally benefit far right parties. Demand-side explanations tend to focus on how economic and cultural grievances can make certain voters more likely to prefer far right candidates. A less explored mechanisms is how demographic changes can affect some key native citizens’ political attitudes, which can make far right parties more attractive for them. Using rich
administrative data at the local level and a three-waves panel survey in Chile, I show that people living in counties that were more exposed to demographic changes become more likely to have nationalistic ideas, support strong-handed measures to combat crime, and validate authoritarianism. This illustrates how demographic changes do not just produce grievances but can also affect how people understand the political dynamics in society.

Author

• Giancarlo Visconti, Purdue University