The Strategic Logic of Islamophobic Populism


ÖZTIĞ L. İ., Gurkan T. A., AYDIN K.

Government and Opposition, vol.56, pp.446-464, 2021 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 56
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1017/gov.2019.35
  • Journal Name: Government and Opposition
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, ABI/INFORM, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Historical Abstracts, Index Islamicus, PAIS International, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts, DIALNET
  • Page Numbers: pp.446-464
  • Keywords: Islamophobic populism, anti-Islam political parties, electoral strategy, voters, Europe, PARTY
  • Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Government and Opposition Limited and Cambridge University Press.In Europe, the rise of populism is coupled with the rise of Islamophobia, vividly evident with exponential increases in votes for anti-Islam political parties in national elections. These parties portray Islam and Muslims as threats and maintain a position that Islam (as a religion and culture) is a threatening contrast to European values. By analysing Islamophobic discourses of the French National Front, Alternative for Germany and the Dutch Freedom Party, this article argues that Islamophobic populism targets not only Muslims, but also the incumbent leaders. By looking at the current dynamics of public opinion, this article explains how Islamophobic populism functions as an electoral strategy.