Intersecting Dynamics of Populism and Euroscepticism: A Comparative Cross-National Inquiry into France and Poland

Populism and Euroscepticism have become part of the vital forces in determining the political and social behavior of the people across the contemporary European society. This article aims to analyze these narratives by investigating the mutually reinforcing relationship between the duo overlapping concepts via a comparative cross-national analysis of France and Poland. Drawing from secondary public opinion datasets (ESS, Eurobarometer) and party-level classifications (PopuList, CHES) the article focus on identifying unique yet intersecting pathways through which populism influences euroscepticism in the two EU member states characterized by divergent political trajectories but similar trends in anti-establishment rhetoric. Results indicate that in France, Euroscepticism is mostly instrumental, grounded in cultural protectionism and socio-economic discontent, whereas in Poland it is more structural, entrenched in sovereignty-focused narratives promoted by the ruling elite. While the study demonstrates that populist actors in both countries strategically leverage Eu crises to enhance political legitimacy, it enriches literature by providing a dual-level analytical framework that synthesizes individual attitudes and political factors to elucidate contemporary symbiotic relations between populism and euroscepticism.