Jonathan Hopkin
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- August 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780190699765
- eISBN:
- 9780190097707
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190699765.003.0003
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Political Economy
This chapter analyzes the electoral successes of anti-system forces, looking at how differences in the social, economic, and political institutions in rich democracies determine the extent and nature ...
More
This chapter analyzes the electoral successes of anti-system forces, looking at how differences in the social, economic, and political institutions in rich democracies determine the extent and nature of anti-system support. Anti-system politics is stronger in countries that are structurally prone to run trade deficits, have weak or badly designed welfare states, and have electoral rules that artificially suppress the range of political options voters can choose from. The chapter also shows that the ways in which welfare systems distribute exposure to economic risks predict whether anti-system politics takes a predominantly left-wing or right-wing direction. Right-wing anti-system politics is successful in creditor countries with very inclusive welfare states. Meanwhile, left-wing anti-system politics is stronger in debtor countries with “dualistic” welfare states.Less
This chapter analyzes the electoral successes of anti-system forces, looking at how differences in the social, economic, and political institutions in rich democracies determine the extent and nature of anti-system support. Anti-system politics is stronger in countries that are structurally prone to run trade deficits, have weak or badly designed welfare states, and have electoral rules that artificially suppress the range of political options voters can choose from. The chapter also shows that the ways in which welfare systems distribute exposure to economic risks predict whether anti-system politics takes a predominantly left-wing or right-wing direction. Right-wing anti-system politics is successful in creditor countries with very inclusive welfare states. Meanwhile, left-wing anti-system politics is stronger in debtor countries with “dualistic” welfare states.
Jonathan Hopkin
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- August 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780190699765
- eISBN:
- 9780190097707
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190699765.003.0006
- Subject:
- Political Science, Comparative Politics, Political Economy
This chapter assesses the Eurozone debt crisis as a conflict between creditor and debtor countries, pitting northern member states against the southern periphery, before looking at the distributional ...
More
This chapter assesses the Eurozone debt crisis as a conflict between creditor and debtor countries, pitting northern member states against the southern periphery, before looking at the distributional politics of austerity in the smaller southern Eurozone states of Greece and Portugal. The Eurozone crisis placed the European Union under extraordinary strain, as markets panicked, leaving the weaker and more indebted member states struggling to avoid financial collapse. The bailouts of Greece, Ireland, and Portugal may have saved them from crashing out of the single currency, but the price was harsh austerity for their citizens and an accumulation of debt comparable to wartime. Meanwhile, the political costs of the euro crisis can be seen in the destabilization of European party systems. Not only did Greece embrace anti-system politics, electing a government opposed to the bailout regime, but the northern European countries that had put up much of the money for the rescues also saw their own political backlash.Less
This chapter assesses the Eurozone debt crisis as a conflict between creditor and debtor countries, pitting northern member states against the southern periphery, before looking at the distributional politics of austerity in the smaller southern Eurozone states of Greece and Portugal. The Eurozone crisis placed the European Union under extraordinary strain, as markets panicked, leaving the weaker and more indebted member states struggling to avoid financial collapse. The bailouts of Greece, Ireland, and Portugal may have saved them from crashing out of the single currency, but the price was harsh austerity for their citizens and an accumulation of debt comparable to wartime. Meanwhile, the political costs of the euro crisis can be seen in the destabilization of European party systems. Not only did Greece embrace anti-system politics, electing a government opposed to the bailout regime, but the northern European countries that had put up much of the money for the rescues also saw their own political backlash.
