The Excluded Ordinary? A Theory of Populist Radical Right Voters’ Position in Society – Preprint

While some research describes Populist Radical Right (PRR) voters as marginalized, other evidence suggests they are central members of society: PRR parties receive support from a broad demographic spectrum and particularly from historically powerful groups. Moreover, PRR voters see themselves as ordinary people. I argue that the conundrum of the marginalized vs. ordinary PRR voter arises because social inclusion is often insufficiently understood as just belonging to the group. I apply Optimal Distinctiveness Theory to posit that an individual’s inclusion experience relies on two needs: First, individuals need to experience belonging to the larger group. Second, they simultaneously need to feel recognized as members of unique subgroups within that larger group. Amid a liberalization of values and a reduction of historical injustices, majority members may feel excluded despite belonging to society because they feel their unique subgroup background is unrecognized. I showcase this argument using semi-structured interviews with German PRR voters. The study explores the general suitability of the theory for majority members’ inclusion experience. I close by raising avenues for quantitative tests of the theory and a significant implication: future progress on minority rights will inevitably drive polarization unless majority members’ need for uniqueness is accounted for.