Public Views of Azov and Radicalism in Ukraine

• In Event: Ukraine and Europe

Abstract

Recent years have seen a rise not only in radical right parties, but also, in radical right uncivil society groups around the globe. This study compares the support base and attitudinal correlates of support among two manifestations of radical right ideology - one a party engaged in conventional politics, and one originated as a movement engaged in unconventional politics. Do they draw on the same supporters? This paper examines public support for far-right parties and Azov and addresses a ‘complementarity hypothesis’. It shows that there is a one-way (but not a two-way) linkage between supporters of militias / military unit and parties. Party networks draw supporters from militia fans, but militia sympathizers cannot be exclusively linked to radical right voters and supporters. Further, while prejudice determines support for militias, it does not influence support for radical right parties. The paper uses two original surveys in Ukraine. Both surveys used identical questions, when appropriate. They both included list experiments conducted, covering over 2000 respondents. One was conducted in 2016 and the second in December 2023. The data from the December survey are yet to be analysed.

Author

• Lenka Bustikova-Siroky, U of Florida