Backlash Politics and the Rise of the Far-Right: Longitudinal Evidence from Contemporary Chile

Far-right forces are gaining prominence globally, often attributed to a narrative of mass backlash—where growing public opposition to progressive issues purportedly drives support for the far-right. However, empirical evidence provides limited support for the idea of a widespread shift in public opinion against progressive values. To investigate whether popular backlash underpins far-right support, we analyze longitudinal public opinion data from contemporary Chile. This case is particularly compelling, as Chile has progressively embraced more liberal positions on cultural issues since the 1990s, even as a strong far-right movement has recently emerged. The novelty of the far-right in Chile allows us to trace the origins of its supporters and examine how their ideological positions have evolved over time. Our findings indicate that Chilean society as a whole is not becoming more conservative. Rather, the far-right is mobilizing a distinct segment of the population that increasingly rejects progressive values, reflecting a growing trend toward authoritarianism and conservatism among its core supporters—but not within the broader population. While the empirical analysis focuses on Chile, the findings have broader implication for the study of the far-right in comparative perspective.