How Right-Wing Populist Parties in Member States Challenge the Principles of European Integration by Promoting Nationalism and Undermining Democratic Values

This thesis examined how right-wing populist parties in Hungary, Poland, Italy, and Sweden challenge the principles of European integration. Using a comparative framework grounded in discourse theory, the study analyzed how Fidesz, Law and Justice (PiS), Brothers of Italy (FdI), and the Sweden Democrats (SD) construct political narratives that portray the EU as a threat to national sovereignty, cultural identity, and democratic values. The research employed qualitative discourse analysis of party manifestos, speeches, policy documents, and official communications from 2019 to 2024. Findings revealed that these parties mobilize exclusionary nationalism and securitized language to delegitimize supranational governance and promote illiberal reforms at the national level. While each case exhibited unique institutional dynamics, all parties framed themselves as defenders of “the people” against an overreaching EU elite, often using migration and judicial independence as central themes. This thesis contributes to international organization studies by highlighting the discursive strategies that facilitate democratic backsliding within EU member states. It also raises broader societal concerns about the resilience of liberal democracy and the future of global governance in the face of rising populist nationalism.