Qualitative comparative manifesto analysis of three Western European populist radical right parties. FPÖ, UKIP and FN and immigration related policies

Abstract

The European Elections in 2014, national elections and recent opinion show consolidated
high popularity of Populist Radical Right Parties all over Europe. In particular in Austria,
the UK and France domestic populist radical right parties seem to successively gain more
influence and salience. Since this party family stresses national values and questions
immigration in general, this work explicitly scrutinizes these parties’ stances on immigration
and immigration related issues. The following issue areas are examined: immigration in
general, the proposed immigration system and access to labour market, protecting national
values/ the nation state and law and order policies. The author uses a qualitative manifesto
analysis to study the party positions of the Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ), the United
Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and the Front National (FN). By doing so, the analysis
is based on the most recent party manifestos published by each party. In addition, this work
compares the party positions and uncovers distinct differences. The comparison makes clear
that party positions of the FPÖ are the most strict and extreme, whereas the UKIP takes the
most moderate stances. The FN does not claim to have similar strict policies as the FPÖ
however; the FN stance is clearly very close to FPÖ’s positions. Even if there are marginal
differences between the three parties in law and policies, the other policy areas confirm the
aforementioned pattern.