The research shows that economic decline, social instability and limited levels of education are significant factors in explaining the increase in support for populists throughout the EU, but that there are also more complex and interdependent matters to be considered. This is why civil society organisations have a key role to play in fighting populism.
The study compares two regions with a high populist vote in four EU countries, one region at the lower end of the scale and another at the higher end:
- Austria: Klagenfurt-Villach and Niederösterreich-Süd
- France: Drôme and Aisne
- Italy: Udine and Reggio di Calabria
- Poland: Płocki and Nowosądecki
The conclusions provide guidelines to help us better understand the rise of the phenomenon of populism across the entire EU.
