Right-wing populism and the climate change agenda: exploring the linkages

Abstract

Article (Accepted Version) http://sro.sussex.ac.uk Lockwood, Matthew (2018) Right wing populism and the climate change agenda: Exploring the linkages. Environmental Politics, 27 (4). pp. 712-732.

Climate change and the far right

“…Fraune and Knodt (), Batel and Devine‐Wright (), and Lockwood () have pointed particularly to policy—though this is an area in which rather little is known. For example, Lockwood (, p. 713), besides his general comment on the potential influence of far‐right parties on climate change policy, noted the influence of the Danish People's Party on legislation. A recent report by the Berlin‐based think tank adelphi (Schaller & Carius, 2019, pp.…”

“…Finally, and focusing solely on climate change, Lockwood (, p. 714) departed from the observation that “RWP is generally climate skeptical and hostile to climate policy.” Lockwood's subsequent aim was to explore the relationship between far‐right actors and climate‐change skepticism by introducing two distinct kinds of explanation. Lockwood (, p. 718) termed the first one “structuralist,” which is related to the appeal of right‐wing populist parties to those “left behind” by globalization and technological modernization.…”

“…Finally, and focusing solely on climate change, Lockwood (, p. 714) departed from the observation that “RWP is generally climate skeptical and hostile to climate policy.” Lockwood's subsequent aim was to explore the relationship between far‐right actors and climate‐change skepticism by introducing two distinct kinds of explanation. Lockwood (, p. 718) termed the first one “structuralist,” which is related to the appeal of right‐wing populist parties to those “left behind” by globalization and technological modernization. That is, it accounts for the “marginalization of specific groups in postindustrial societies through structural change in the global economy.” The second explanation is based on the ideological agenda of such actors, “especially its antagonism between ‘the people’ and a cosmopolitan elite, with climate change and policy occupying a symbolic place in this contrast” (Lockwood, , p. 712).…”

“…Lockwood (, p. 718) termed the first one “structuralist,” which is related to the appeal of right‐wing populist parties to those “left behind” by globalization and technological modernization. That is, it accounts for the “marginalization of specific groups in postindustrial societies through structural change in the global economy.” The second explanation is based on the ideological agenda of such actors, “especially its antagonism between ‘the people’ and a cosmopolitan elite, with climate change and policy occupying a symbolic place in this contrast” (Lockwood, , p. 712). Evaluating these two explanations, Lockwood ultimately argued that focusing on ideology is more promising.…”

“…This contribution to WIREs Climate Change suggests that many, though not all, far‐right party and nonparty actors are, in one way or another, skeptical towards climate change issues, at least in comparison to the European mainstream. Indeed, a majority of empirical and conceptually oriented studies support Lockwood's (, p. 713) claim that there is a “congruence between RWP (right‐wing populism) and climate skepticism.” In consequence, this focus article introduces key themes in this communication. Furthermore, it explores whether a tendency apparently existing in the far right's wider articulation of the natural environment—those further to the extreme right are more ecologically inclined (in their way) due to the significance attributed to the link between “the land” and “the people,” nature and nation (Forchtner, in press)—asserts itself in articulations of climate change as well.…”