Populismus und Euroskeptizismus in Südosteuropa seit 1989
Introduction: Populism and Euroscepticism in Southeastern Europe

Summary/Abstract: Abstract. Populism has been a prominent feature of political parties in Southeastern Europe over the past two decades . Euroscepticism has, on the other hand, been a more recent phe- nomenon and is represented only at the political margins in most countries of the region . The introduction to the special issue on “Populism and Euroscepticism in Southeastern Europe” explores the relationship between the two . The editors of the issue argue that there has in fact been a decline of right-wing populist parties in recent years, simultaneously to an increase of scepticism towards the EU among citizens . The fact that euroscepticism has not found strong political representation in Southeastern Europe has been caused by the apparent lack of alternatives to EU integration and the inability to dissociate euroscepticism from right- wing populism, which has lost its appeal and is in decline . Instead, populism does however remain potent in the region . It is embodied by mainstream political parties that endorse EU integration, yet simultaneously appeal to social populism and/or nationalism .

• Details
• Contents