The Rise of Neo-Populist Parties in Scandinavia: A Danish Case Study

This paper is an analysis of “neo-populist” parties in Scandinavia, focusing on the People’s Party in Denmark. Such parties in the countries of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark have experienced an increase in votes and seats in the most recent parliamentary elections, primarily due to their appeal to Eurosceptism, concerns about multiculturalism, and economic difficulties. Our discriminant analysis of individual-level data suggests that the electoral success of the Danish People’s Party is primarily due to their ability to attract conservative voters and those who oppose the EU. This two-pronged appeal is not shared by any other party in Denmark.