Why Right-Wing Populism Hasn’t Taken Off In Ireland

About this episode

The episode explores why right-wing populism has not gained traction in Ireland compared to other countries.

While I was in Dublin recently, I sat down with Hugh Linehan of The Irish Times ’ Inside Politics podcast to talk about Irish and American politics. We start with a question that gets asked frequently about Ireland: Why hasn’t right-wing populism taken off there? Across much of Europe and the English-speaking world, the populist right has become a major political force. Donald Trump reshaped the Republican Party in the United States. Brexit transformed British politics. Marine Le Pen’s party has become a central player in France. Far-right or right-populist parties have broken through in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and elsewhere. Ireland, so far, has been different. There are anti-immigration activists, small right-wing parties and some independent politicians trying to occupy that space. But Ireland has not had the kind of durable, mass right-populist breakthrough that has become familiar elsewhere. Hugh and I talk through some of the possible reasons why. Ireland is not living through the same kind of decline narrative that has fueled populism in other countries. In many ways, the country is more prosperous and globally successful than it has ever been. Its experience with…

People in this episode

Host: Galen Druke

Guest: Hugh Linehan

Topics covered

• right-wing populism
• Irish politics
• American politics
• immigration
• political landscape
• populist movements

Keywords

• populism
• Ireland
• politics
• Hugh Linehan
• Sinn Féin
• Donald Trump
• Brexit
• immigration

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Irish Times, Sinn Féin

Places: Ireland, United States, Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden

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