Between Nativists and Populists: Exploring Far-Right Political Identity in Slovakia

Nativism and populism are commonly recognized as core defining features of the contemporary far right. Both are grounded in dichotomous and antagonistic frameworks, albeit along distinct axes. This is further complicated by a diverse and often overlapping terminology, reflecting the heterogeneity of political actors and the varying degrees to which these features are manifested. Consequently, terms such as right-wing populism, ultranationalism, nationalist conservatism, and even nativist populism are frequently used to describe different facets of far-right politics. Building on a fundamental conceptual distinction between nativism and populism as distinct logics of exclusion and political antagonism, this paper examines how these ideologies manifest and intersect within the Slovak far-right political landscape. Focusing on the construction of the us versus them dichotomy in public political discourse, the analysis traces how themes such as hostility toward minorities and opposition to the European Union are articulated within nativist and populist frameworks. Employing qualitative discourse analysis of public statements by leaders of three parties positioned on the extreme or radical right - the Republic Movement (far-right nativist), the Slovak National Party (ultranationalist and conservative), and We Are Family (right-wing populist) - the study provides an in-depth examination of how the notion of “us” is constructed and mobilized across different ideological configurations. By comparing these patterns, the paper demonstrates how nativist and populist discourses may operate independently yet also intersect and reinforce one another in contemporary far-right rhetoric. In doing so, it contributes to ongoing scholarly debates by refining the conceptual relationship between nativism and populism and illustrating their empirical interaction within a single national context.