More than populist Party-cipation - participation in the realm of populism in Europe

Citizen engagement is essential in liberal democracies, but certain European regions experience declining traditional political involvement, evident in lower voter turnout and reduced party memberships, accompanied by a diminishing trust in political institutions. Simultaneously, alternative forms of political participation, such as #activism or political consumerism, are gaining prominence. In the meantime, European party systems are also under pressure, with populist parties often playing a central role. Research frequently emphasizes the supply side of these parties, overlooking or only addressing the citizens' perspective through an analysis of voting decisions. This leads to a marginalization of the significance of political participation beyond voting in the context of populism, which is particularly surprising given the success of populist parties and their assumed mobilization potential, especially in non-institutionalized forms. It is assumed that there are different participation patterns used by supporters of populist parties, which in turn may indicate gaps on the supply side of other parties. Moreover, it is posited that variations in the attitudes of the individuals within the group also result in divergent patterns. This study aims to bring together the broad spectrum of political participation in European democracies with focus on digital participation with the study of populism. Employing a mixed-methods approach with newly generated research data comprising focus groups and an experimental survey this research seeks to reveal the various ways the supporters of populist parties engage in politics, especially online and the corresponding underlying factors. Data collection was part of the Horizon Europe-funded ActEU project, involving 16 focus groups in May and June 2023 across Czechia, France, Germany, and Greece, and an experimental survey in early 2024 in ten EU member states. The survey enables in this context the quantitative investigation of the participation patterns and underlying mechanisms of supporters of populist parties and allowing for broader conclusions of the mobilizing potential in the realm of populist affiliations. Qualitative insights from focus groups offer an in-depth understanding of motivations and preferences in political engagement, whether driven by rational or emotional factors, with a specific focus on those expressing populist ideas.