From Protest to Power: The Success of Radical Right Populism in Contemporary Europe : The Case of Radical Right Parties within the Patriots Faction

This thesis investigates the conditions under which radical right populist parties emerge, consolidate electoral support, and become normalized actors within European democracies. Focusing comparatively on Austria’s FPÖ, France’s RN, Portugal’s Chega, and Hungary’s Fidesz, the study applies an integrated analytical framework synthesizing five explanatory theories: Modernization Losers Theory, Strategic Niche Theory, Cultural Backlash Theory, Authoritarian Personality Theory, and Normalization Theory. Using a qualitative case study methodology, the analysis reveals that no singular theoretical approach sufficiently explains the multifaceted success of these parties. Instead, their rise and persistence result from a dynamic interplay of economic discontent, cultural anxieties, elite strategies ranging from disengagement to co-optation, psychological predispositions towards authoritarianism, and discursive shifts that reshape the boundaries of political legitimacy. The case studies illustrate diverse pathways: FPÖ and RN leveraging coalition politics and ideological moderation; Chega rapidly exploiting political vacuums in Portugal; and Fidesz systematically entrenching political dominance through institutional transformation. These varied trajectories underscore how national contexts distinctly shape common ideological developments, providing nuanced insights into the resilience and adaptability of radical right populism. This thesis contributes to comparative politics by offering an integrated analytical framework for analysing the evolution of radical right populism in Europe. It also addresses the wider implications of their normalisation for democratic backsliding and the shifting limits of legitimate political discourse.