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Reviewing the relationship between social policy and the contemporary populist radical right: welfare chauvinism, welfare nation state and social citizenship

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2020

Markus Ketola Open the ORCID record for Markus Ketola [Opens in a new window]  and
Johan Nordensvard Open the ORCID record for Johan Nordensvard [Opens in a new window]
Markus Ketola*
Affiliation:
School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
Johan Nordensvard
Affiliation:
Department of Political Science, University of Stockholm, Statsvetenskapliga institutionen, Stockholm, Sweden
*
CONTACT Markus Ketola [email protected] Ulster University, School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
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Abstract

Whilst populism has a long-standing relationship with social policy, the recent emergence of radical right populism as a considerable political force across Europe and beyond compels us to think further about this relationship. The aim of this review essay is to bring together literature on populism, welfare chauvinism and social citizenship in order to highlight the role social policy plays in the rhetoric and political approach of the populist radical right. This essay reviews, how, by developing artificial distinctions between culturally homogeneous ‘people’ and corrupt ‘elite’, the populist radical right generates interpretations of social citizenship that confers social rights based on of cultural or ethnic belonging, rather than as a matter of right. By simplifying the nature of complex social policy problems, radical right populism further problematises the mainstream social policy agenda. Consequently, radical right populism will continue to present a significant challenge to progressive and inclusive social policy.

Keywords

Populismwelfare chauvinismsocial citizenshipsocial policy
Type
Review Article
Information
Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy , Volume 34 , Issue 3: SI: Social Policy and Populism: welfare chauvinism and identity politics in a Europe on the brink of Brexit , October 2018 , pp. 172 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

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