Youth Wings of the Populist Radical Right

Although many of today’s populist radical right (PRR) leaders in Europe came through their party’s youth wings, we know little about these organisations and their members. This book, which is the first comparative study in English to investigate youth wings of any ideological type, provides an in-depth account of PRR youth wing structures (organisational features, relationships with the senior party, and international networks) and agents (leaders and grassroots members). Covering 10 youth wings from across Europe and based on extensive interviews with over 50 PRR youth wing leaders and executive members, original survey data, and document analysis, it finds that these organisations are not just future-oriented entities, but central components of their parties in the here and now, acting as motors of mobilisation, socialisation, internationalisation, professionalisation, and normalisation. The book thus offers a unique window on how PRR youth wings function as Janus-faced institutions, supporting the populist radical right today and helping build the populist radical right of tomorrow.