Welfare Democracies and Party Politics: Explaining Electoral Dynamics in Times of Changing Welfare: Conclusion

Abstract

The Conclusion summarizes the most important findings of the book. It states a homogenization of European party systems, the emergence of a new combination of leftist socio-economic and rightist socio-cultural positions in many parties, and the rise of the radical right in the north of Europe and the radical left in the south. The contributions of this book also indicate a confluence toward renewed welfare state support among both parties and voters. Finally, center-right parties in power in continental and northern European countries, being under pressure from their rising radical right competitors, push for tougher austerity measures throughout the EU. These measures, or even just the rhetoric, further fuel the success of the radical left in the southern periphery. Hence, the Europeanization of political dynamics, combined with incompatible growth models, has created pronounced European cleavages