Radical Party Behavior and Democratic Deliberation in the European Parliament

Abstract

The European Parliament has emerged as a critical arena for understanding how radical and populist parties challenge democratic norms, reshape political boundaries, and influence legislative outcomes. This panel examines the behavior, communication strategies, and institutional impact of radical right and radical left parties within the EP, addressing fundamental questions about the erosion of the cordon sanitaire, patterns of convergence and fragmentation, and the quality of democratic deliberation in an increasingly contested political environment. The panel explores multiple dimensions of radical party politics in the EP. It investigates whether voting behavior reveals emerging coalitions that challenge traditional centrist majorities, and how boundary-making practices redefine what counts as "acceptable" political positioning within the EU's normative community. The analysis extends to the role of disinformation in parliamentary debate, revealing how factual accuracy and narrative framing vary across topics, time periods, and ideological positions. Additionally, the panel examines how radical parties contest specific policy domains, from EU enlargement to climate and gender norms, demonstrating persistent fragmentation even as these actors gain institutional influence. Finally, by comparing communication patterns across different international parliamentary institutions, the panel assesses how venue characteristics and ideological commitments shape populist behavior.

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