We are (Not) the People! Exploring the Dynamic Interplay of Populist Attitudes Between Immigrants and the Majority Population

Building on the rise of populist parties, recent scholarly attention has focused on populist attitudes, thereby understanding their manifestations, identifying their determinants and correlates, and assessing their impact, e.g., on voting. However, a significant gap remains in the literature regarding specific demographic groups – a particular focus on immigrant-origin individuals is lacking. Including immigrants in these analyses is essential given their distinct migration histories, diverse political orientations, and socialisation in different political regimes. To address this gap, we compare populist attitudes between individuals with and without a migration background, arguing first that immigrants have stronger populist attitudes, especially among later generations. Second, we suggest that a background in less democratic political regimes leads to stronger populist attitudes, while the influence of these attitudes on voting for populist parties applies similarly across both groups. Using data from the first wave of the DeZIM.panel, we operationalise populist attitudes according to the Goertz approach. Our results indicate, first, that immigrants exhibit stronger populist attitudes, yet there is an alignment with increasing generation. Second, socialisation in a more authoritarian regime is positively associated with populist attitudes. Finally, the effect of populist attitudes on the propensity to vote for the radical right-wing populist AfD does not differ between immigrants and the majority population.