Can the Far Right Mobilise Ethnic Minority Voters? Experimental Evidence of Sidestreaming Effects

More populist radical right parties seem to be performing outreach toward minority voters - e.g. ethnic, racial or gendered minorities. But do these help actually help them win over new supporters? This paper examines the effects of various parties, both radical and mainstream utilising more inclusive and exclusive rhetoric on the Russian-speaking minority in Estonia. Building on a probabilistic survey with a booster sample, we conducted two experimental studies to explore the dynamics of sidestreaming. In Study 1, we employed a conjoint design that presented respondents with hypothetical party candidates (EKRE, the Estonian Centre Party, and Isamaa), each delivering variant messages corresponding to mainstreaming or sidestreaming strategies. This design allows us to assess how minority respondents evaluate different party–message combinations and whether radical right appeals can increase support among minority groups. In Study 2, we used a factor-rating experiment to test the perceived realism of these messages, thereby corroborating respondents’ interpretations and providing insights into their credibility. Together, the two studies not only contribute to conceptualizing sidestreaming as a distinct form of selective inclusiveness but also provide empirical evidence on how radical right actors attempt to entice minorities. The findings advance debates on party competition, political mobilization, and the boundaries of belonging in ethnolinguistically divided societies.