Media Reviews
'The most comprehensive, exhaustive and analytically penetrating study of the populist right in Europe, both West and East. By extending the analysis into Eastern Europe, Cas Mudde makes a convincing case that contemporary right-wing populism is above all a revival of nativism. With this study, Mudde establishes himself as the leading expert on the subject.' Hans-Georg Betz, author of Radical Right-Wing Populism in Western Europe (1994)
'A major achievement - the most comprehensive and insightful analysis of right-wing populism in Europe that has been published to date. This is comparative political analysis as it should be.' Peter Mair, European University Institute
'Cas Mudde has done a brilliant job in integrating the now vast literature on the populist radical right in Europe. By focusing on a broad comparative analysis, he has critically assessed many of the claims about the support, programs and success of these parties. In the process, he has provided an important and comprehensive framework for understanding them. This is an excellent book, important for both scholars and students alike.' Martin Schain, Professor of Politics, New York University
'Mudde's book gives testimony to the richness and depth of the literature on populist right-wing parties published over the past fifteen years, as well as to the many open questions that call for further research, given their scholarly importance and their political salience. There could be no better commentary and guide to the literature than Mudde's book. At the same time, Mudde advances the research frontier in creative ways and adds important insights critical for our understanding of the dynamic success (and failure) of populist right-wing parties in European politics.' Herbert Kitschelt, Duke University
'In this groundbreaking book, Mudde provides the first comprehensive analytical treatment of populist radical right parties in Europe, both west and east. ... Overall, a very thorough, careful, insightful, and impressive work. ... Highly recommended.' Choice
'... this book will undoubtedly stimulate much future research.' Political Studies Review
'... he should be credited for his choice to concentrate on what the parties themselves see as their ideological core. ... an impressive piece of work that fulfils the goal Mudde initially set forth for the book. ... the book is recommended both to academics and nonacademics with an interest in party politics.' Review of Politics
' ... the book is a must read for students of European politics... The book is likely to become a benchmark for future work on the radical right.' Journal of Politics
Mudde's book gives testimony to the richness and depth of the literature on populist right-wing parties published over the past fifteen years, as well as to the many open questions that call for further research, given their scholarly importance and their political salience. There could be no better commentary and guide to the literature than Mudde's book. At the same time, Mudde advances the research frontier in creative ways and adds important insights critical for our understanding of the dynamic success (and failure) of populist right-wing parties in European politics. -Herbert Kitschelt, Duke University
The most comprehensive, exhaustive and analytically penetrating study of the populist right in Europe, both West and East. By extending the analysis into Eastern Europe, Cas Mudde makes a convincing case that contemporary right-wing populism is above all a revival of nativism. With this study, Mudde establishes himself as the leading expert on the subject. -Hans-Georg Betz, author of Radical Right-Wing Populism in Western Europe
A major achievement - the most comprehensive and insightful analysis of right-wing populism in Europe that has been published to date. This is comparative political analysis as it should be. -Peter Mair, European University Institute
Cas Mudde has done a brilliant job in integrating the now vast literature on the populist radical right in Europe. By focusing on a broad comparative analysis, he has critically assessed many of the claims about the support, programs and success of these parties. In the process, he has provided an important and comprehensive framework for understanding them. This is an excellent book, important for both scholars and students alike. -Martin Schain, Professor of Politics, New York University
During the past several years, Cas Mudde has established himself as one of the most influential scholars writing on the radical right. Particularly his comparative studies on right-wing radical ideology and his writings on conceptualization and classification have had a lasting impact on the field. His new book represents the most comprehensive comparative study of the populist right in Europe (including central and eastern Europe) to date, reflecting a quasi-encyclopedic knowledge of the field...[this book] represents a milestone in the study of the contemporary radical right, which is bound to shape the discussion on the subject in the years to come. -Hans-Georg Betz, e-Extreme, newsletter of ECPR Standing Group on Extremism and Democracy
Cas Mudde's book masterfully synthesizes this voluminous literature, adding original insights and opening venues for academic research. His exhaustive review of the literature, makes three important contributions to this mushrooming field: it provides a solid conceptual basis for understanding the radical right; it extends the analysis to Eastern Europe; and it improves existing explanations for the rise of this phenomenon...This book is likely to become a benchmark for future work on the radical right. -Antonis A. Ellinas, The Journal of Politics
In this groundbreaking book, Mudde provides the first comprehensive analytical treatment of populist radical right parties in Europe, both west and east....The key findings here, in that they go against the views of much of the literature, are that these parties are centrist and not right wing in their economics, and that their lack of appeal to women is driven largely by women's lower sense of political efficacy....Overall, a very thorough, careful, insightful, and impressive work. Summing Up: Highly recommended. -A. Siaroff, University of Lethbridge, Choice
Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe offers a lucid, supremely well-informed overview of a sprawling, complex literature and a penetrating...critique of its accumulated insights. The book is at its strongest in its incisive discussion of concept formation and categorization and its provocative conclusions on the relationship of the populist radical right to the mainstream of European democracy. -Sean Hanley, University College London, Perspectives on Politics