From Santiago to Rome: Anti-Communism and the Populist Radical Right in Comparative Perspective

This paper examines the role of instrumental and affective attitudes against communism as a tool used by populist radical right (PRR) parties to mobilize and attract voters. Anti-communism, as a collective set of beliefs and sentiments, transcends the boundaries of positive ideological affiliations to PRR parties, serving as a fertile space for their electoral growth. Specifically, this research investigates the components of anti-communism and explores the extent to which these instrumental and affective attitudes predict voting for PRR parties in different contexts. The study sheds light on how PRR parties instrumentalize narratives tied to anti-communism to normalize their platforms. Drawing on original survey data from Italy (2022), France (2024), Peru (2024), and Chile (2025), this paper employs a public opinion approach to analyze the prevalence, predictors, and electoral consequences of anti-communist sentiment across Europe and Latin America. The comparative scope highlights both commonalities and regional specificities in how anti-communist attitudes are mobilized, emphasizing the importance of understanding the contextual factors shaping their expression. This research has broader implications for understanding how PRR parties exploit anti-communist attitudes to erode liberal democratic norms and offers tools to contest the far-right in both contexts. By demonstrating how anti-communistic attitudes are associated to the normalization of PRR agendas, the paper contributes to the academic and policy discourse on the resilience of democracy. Understanding the dynamics of anti-communism as a predictor of PRR support is crucial for developing effective strategies for contesting the far right. Ultimately, it invites further exploration of the conditions under which anti-communist attitudes, as a global phenomenon, enable the mainstreaming of PRR parties in diverse political systems. Understanding the dynamics of anti-communism as a predictor of PRR support is crucial for developing effective strategies for contesting the far right across diverse political systems and historical contexts.