The Role of Pessimism in Radical (Right) Voting

Many studies on Radical Right voting rest on two approaches: a focus on personal grievances (e.g. economic deprivation), or a policy model stressing specific attitudinal correlates (e.g. anti-immigrant values). However, explanations stressing grievances leave open the puzzle why many voters don't fit the “loser of globalization” typology, or do not live in areas with a substantive immigrant population. Second, substantial anti-immigrant and authoritarian views are also found among mainstream right voters. We argue and show (using ESS data) that societal pessimism can offer a fuller understanding of Radical Right and potentially Radical Left voting. This attitude – a perception of unmanageable deterioration of society (or collective powerlessness) – can explain why people do not need to experience personal grievances to feel threatened, and highlights a core difference between Radical and mainstream voters, who are optimistic about the opportunities that arise from societal changes.