Electoral support in peripheral post-socialist regions as a product of nostalgia and grievances: The example of the Bruntál district

Abstract

Voters are often influenced by emotions when choosing a political party in elections. In particular, right-wing and left-wing populist parties try to evoke these emotions in their potential voters. This article investigates the impact of nostalgia and grievances that populist parties try to induce in their voters in peripheral regions and thus influence the choice of a political party. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with inhabitants of the Bruntál district, which is characterised by above-average support for populist parties. According to the analysis, support for the left-wing Communist Party was influenced by nostalgia for the socialist regime, especially among the older population. Post-socialist nostalgia also appeared among younger residents if they had an elderly family member who benefited from the past regime. In contrast, economic deprivation, grievances with the central government, and the possible and actual consequences of the migration crisis have increased the attraction of the populist radical right in the region.