What makes a populist voter - is there a common ground?

Abstract

Scholars have long debated the characteristics that unify populist parties in Europe, noting that despite differing ideologies, organizational structures, and political styles, these parties often share a common narrative about the divide between the people and the elite. However, there remains a gap in understanding the profiles of populist voters themselves. Are there common traits among those who support populist parties across different regions? And how do these voters compare not only to those of mainstream parties but also to those who choose to abstain from voting altogether? Using quantitative analysis This study examines the voter bases of 46 populist parties across Western, Central, and Eastern Europe to explore these questions. The findings suggest a lack of unifying factors among populist voters overall, with "host ideologies" of the parties playing a more significant role in shaping voter profiles. While Western Europe displays a somewhat more consistent pattern across different types of populist party voters—be they left, right, or centrist—Central and Eastern Europe show greater variation, with fewer clear distinctions between populist and mainstream party supporters and abstainers. These results challenge the notion that the success of populist parties is driven from bottom by "populist attitudes" at the societal level. Instead, they indicate that the profile of populist party voter is more complex and heavily influenced by regional contexts and the specific ideologies of the parties themselves, underscoring the need for a nuanced understanding of populism in Europe.