Radical right parties in Europe have not moderated. Their positions and rhetoric have entered the mainstream. They have become normalized and legitimized. Unless we understand this, we have little chance of countering their success.

This is a brilliant piece on the restructuring of political competition in Western Europe and goes far beyond the question of populism. Great also for teaching.

Back at Bologna's Alma Mater today to discuss the book below with Politics postgrads... Looking forward to it.... The book is open access -free to read and download. See link below.

The core thesis of our Brextinction paper, beautifully (or morbidly?) summarized in one flowchart (also based on YouGov data). @simonhix.bsky.social @juhoharkonen.bsky.social ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

📣 #MilitantDemocracy out in #OpenAccess @routledgebooks.bsky.social! 📝 Offers one of the first comprehensive theories of #democraticselfdefence. Great to see it’s still relevant to current debates. 🎂 This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Dutch edition! www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mon...

For the Guardian, @jonhenley.bsky.social reports on our new research briefs on the politics of housing. Current policies too often treat housing as an asset. Housing as a social right has nearly disappeared from the agenda of even progressive parties. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

After more than 10 years of “the Danish Model”, nativism is hegemonic in the country, the far right polls near level highs again, and the Social Democrats lost Copenhagen and poll at historic low. European Social Democrats should look at the facts, not the myths! Me in @theguardian.com

Cas Mudde spells out what has become largely the consensus among researchers: moving right on immigration will not weaken the far right nor strengthen social democracy. If your reaction is "but in Denmark" please at least familiarize yourself with Danish politics www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Labour is desperately trying to appeal to Reform supporters. In October, we asked people in the UK if they perceive a party as a "party for someone like them". Only very few people say this for both Labour and Reform. The correlation is negative. Labour is chasing an electorate that does not exist.

Our book launch is still planned for next Thursday, November 20th, 5PM at Queen Mary University of London. Catering has also been booked 🍷🫒. Register via: tinyurl.com/382xbuy5

Andrej Zaslove and I wrote down our thoughts on the recent Dutch election results, noting the continuing relevance of the far right and the hollowing of the (liberal) centre. 👇 @qmul-sse-cgd.bsky.social @qmulsse.bsky.social

My more elaborate take on why the Dutch election outcome does not represent a defeat of the far right

One observation re. the Dutch election is the enduring strength of the far right (I am not fully subscribing to the 'shift back to the centre' narrative). I should be on ABC Australia News channel at around 11 CET to talk about this and to show my plants (again). www.youtube.com/live/vOTiJkg...

🗳️ First exit polls from the Netherlands: Wilders’ PVV appears to shrink from 37 to 25 seats. Make no mistake — the far right remains strong. Support hasn’t disappeared; it’s shifted across parties. The Dutch political landscape is more fragmented than ever — and the far right is no exception. 🇳🇱

Election day also means a quick round up of my comments in the international media that have been published today. Pick your favorite language 🙂 www.bbc.com/news/article...

This is the final 'poll of polls' before the Dutch elections. Three parties at the same level, and two more not much smaller. Given the high percentage of late deciders and voters in doubt, the outcome is still very much uncertain. 🧵

Here is the Guardian piece, which worked off slightly different polls.

You think your elections are nail biters? In the last poll of the polls, the @peilingwijzer.bsky.social produced by @tomlouwerse.nl, before election day in the Netherlands tomorrow, three parties are tied for first place peilingwijzer.tomlouwerse.nl

📣 Very timely: our @epsrjournal.bsky.social article on how populist radical right parties in the Netherlands have evolved organisationally is now officially published - with volume and page numbers and all! Check it out here if you’re interested: doi.org/10.1017/S175... 🍿

🎧 In Haagse Zaken schuift vandaag een gigant aan: Herman Tjeenk Willink. Waarom je de democratische rechtsstaat moet koesteren, en over wat er deze verkiezingen echt op het spel staat: spotify.link/OfIAlJ7nKXb

Een goed gesprek over democratie met Jean Dohmen van @fd.nl. Het gesprek vond voor het rapport van de Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten plaats, maar inmiddels is de kop actueler dan ooit fd.nl/politiek/157...

We will present our book 'Populist Radical Right Parties in Action: The Survival of the Mass Party' (Oxford UP) at Queen Mary University of London on Thursday, November 20th, 5-6:30pm GMT. Corina Lacatus will discuss, and there will be a reception. Register via 👉 tinyurl.com/382xbuy5

Het SBS6-debat had zes vragen geselecteerd die burgers zelf mochten stellen. Vier daarvan gingen direct of indirect over migratie. Slechts twee vragen gingen over iets anders: de rol van private investeerders de woningmarkt, de andere over het eigen risico in relatie tot stijgende zorgkosten.

🗳️ Dutch voters will elect a new parliament for the third time in just five years on October 29. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming elections. 🇳🇱 My colleague Esmee and I wrote a short primer for @theconversation.com. doi.org/10.64628/AB....

🗳️🇳🇱 New Op-ed: The enduring relevance of the Far Right ahead of the #DutchElection By Prof. @stijntvankessel.bsky.social Ahead of the 29 Oct vote, far-right narratives continue to shape Dutch politics. 🔗 Read: fpc.org.uk/op-ed-the-en...

I wrote a pre-election briefing / commentary ahead of the Dutch parliamentary election next week (October 29th). The main focus is on the enduring relevance of the far right, the salience of the immigration issue, and how mainstream parties contribute to its politicisation.

It was great listening to @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social & @stijntvankessel.bsky.social presenting their latest OUP book "Populist Radical Right Parties in Action", yesterday at King's College London! The event was organised by @psa-italian.bsky.social @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social

This week 👇 “Populist Radical Right Parties in Action” - October 15, King’s College London 🚨There is still time to register for attending online!

We are planning two book presentations in London: 1) Wed, 15 October 15:30 - 17:00 BST at King's College / online (see 👇) and 2) Thurs, 20 November, 17:00 BST at Queen Mary University (details to follow). w/ @dralbertazziuk.bsky.social

Join me, @stijntvankessel.bsky.social & Isabelle Hertner next week as we present "Populist Radical Right Parties in Action" (Oxford University Press), available Open Access here: academic.oup.com/book/60532 If you or your library prefer a printed copy, you can find a discounted code below.

📣 Together with Iris Beau Segers, I wrote about the recent far-right violence at an anti-immigration demo in The Hague in the Netherlands. If you are curious about what is happening in the run-up to the elections, this blog is for you 👇🇳🇱

With Andrej Zaslove, I wrote a piece on the recent extreme-right riots in the Netherlands, and what should be learned from them 👇

NEW! In Liverpool for Labour Conference... Starmer is concentrating on Reform but Labour shouldn't mistake their threat on the right, even in Leave voting heartlands. Our new analysis w/ @martamiori.bsky.social explains: politicscentre.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

The success of the far right is not only measured in votes and seats but in its impact on rhetoric, policy and ideology. The fact that a (nominally) social democratic head of government with a huge majority choses to say and do this is maybe the biggest success of the far right in Europe yet.

For the Guardian, @turnbulldugarte.com and I discuss our research that clearly shows one thing: Labour's anti-immigration strategy will only strengthen Reform and weaken its own electoral prospects. It won't win voters back but ultimately normalizes the far right www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Now out in @cpsjournal.bsky.social. In our new article, @denis-cohen.bsky.social @thmskrr.bsky.social and I show that where local rent prices increase more, residents with lower incomes become more likely to support the radical right AfD. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

“De normalisering van uiterst rechts zie je terug op straat” met commentaar van @leoniedejonge.bsky.social @peter8rberg.bsky.social en yours truly www.trouw.nl/politiek/de-...

We are pleased to invite to you to the book launch of "Populist Radical Right Parties in Action: The Survival of the Mass Party” (Oxford University Press). 🗓️ October 15th, 15:30 📍 King’s College London (and online!) Please register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launc...

Versions of this BBC World article on the UK immigration protests and broader context also available in Uzbek, Arabic, Serbian, Vietnamese, among other languages (in case this is of interest).

On the one hand, better late than never. On the other hand: why so late? The case for doing this was just as obvious in May as it is in September.

Zeer lezenswaardig, dit interview van @stevoakkerman.bsky.social in Trouw. Met opvallende en rake uitspraken over de media: “Talkshows zijn een paardenrace en media hebben de neiging om het dominante frame niet te bevragen, maar te volgen.” www.trouw.nl/verdieping/p...

📣 Nieuwe column voor @groene.nl. Het klakkeloos overnemen van termen als ‘remigratie’ past in het draaiboek van uiterst rechts. Het versterkt uiteindelijk het zelfvertrouwen van de beweging – wat zich vertaalt in electorale winst en meer zichtbaarheid op straat. www.groene.nl/artikel/remi...

Wat een slechte analyse. Een extreemrechtse gewelddadige explosie mag niet gepolitiseerd worden, zo’n fascistische geweldsuitbarsting is van zichzelf al politiek. En dit extremisme wordt zichtbaarder en sterker omdat vanuit het parlementaire domein het gedachtegoed (grotendeels) wordt gelegitimeerd.

Ook een goed commentaar dat het ideologische karakter van het geweld aankaart 👇

Ook uitstekende duiding van @leoniedejonge.bsky.social 👇

Uitstekend commentaar 👇

Alles is politiek aan de rellen in Den Haag

Anti-immigration demonstration in the Netherlands escalates. This is exactly what happens when far-right ideas are tolerated and normalised over an extended period of time. The far right gains confidence and grows, both at the ballot box and in the streets. nos.nl/artikel/2583...

I wrote for @theguardian.com about the “Unite the Kingdom” rally. High time to pull head out of the sand and learn from other countries — if only on what NOT to do!

🔎New! A Reform UK government isn’t inevitable, argues @timbale.bsky.social. blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...