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Explaining the Religion Gap in Support for Radical Right Parties in Europe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 May 2015

Kathleen A. Montgomery  and
Ryan Winter
Kathleen A. Montgomery*
Affiliation:
Illinois Wesleyan University
Ryan Winter*
Affiliation:
Illinois Wesleyan University
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Kathleen A. Montgomery, Political Science, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL 61702-2900. E-mail: [email protected]
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Kathleen A. Montgomery, Political Science, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL 61702-2900. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Across Europe populist radical right (PRR) parties advertise themselves as defenders of Christian identity and values, but they do not seem to strongly attract religious Christian voters. This article tests a general framework for understanding this religion gap in 13 countries. Findings extend earlier research on religiosity and radical right attitudes, provide insight on East-West differences in the PRR phenomenon, and lend conditional support to the notion of a “vaccine effect” suggested by prior research.

Type
Articles
Information
Politics and Religion , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , June 2015 , pp. 379 - 403
Copyright
Copyright © Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association 2015 

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Footnotes

The authors would like to acknowledge Casey Plach and Sarah Bergman for their assistance in the preparation of this article.

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