Why do European citizens support populism? A comparative study of demand-side and supply-side explanations

This thesis presents an in-depth exploration of the rise of populist parties in European democracies over the past two decades. Drawing from the ideational approach to populism, this study investigates the diverse factors driving citizen support for these political movements from a comparative perspective. The research explores both demand-side and supply-side factors, offering crucial insights into the cross-country variations in populist parties’ electoral performances. This integrated approach sheds light on the multifaceted dynamics underlying populist support in European democracies, enriching the scholarly understanding of populism's complexities but also equipping policymakers with valuable knowledge to understand where support for these political actors originates from.