THE PUZZLE REVISITED

Given that all four countries face similar socioeconomic conditions, why is the radical right more successful at winning votes in Denmark, France, and Austria than in Germany? Why does the radical right gain more seats in Denmark and Austria than in France? This book has focused on the puzzle that is presented by the difference in the level of success of radical right parties. The results of this analysis imply that electoral rules and party systems play a crucial role in the development of new parties. Electoral results can be difficult to understand unless these rules and the strategies that parties pursue are included in the analysis. In general, the comparative study of political parties can benefit from an understanding of the strategies that voters and parties use to gain particular outcomes. Changes in the rules of the game can have a dramatic impact on party development and electoral success. To conclude the analysis, I summarize the findings of the previous chapters, discuss the implications of those findings, and identify areas for future research.

This analysis has emphasized the importance of electoral institutions, factionalism, and party strategy in explaining the difference in levels of success of radical right parties in Western Europe. In Chapter 1, I presented my main argument: that radical right parties will have difficulty attracting voters and winning seats in electoral systems that encourage strategic voting and/or strategic coordination by the mainstream parties.