Regional Peripheralization as Contextual Source of Populist Attitudes in Germany and Czech Republic

Abstract

This article seeks to shed more light on the reasons for the regionally uneven distribution of populist attitudes. We take into account both individual-level and contextual drivers and focus mainly on the latter. We argue that regional peripheralization processes are a key contextual condition driving populist attitudes, especially in post-communist settings. The empirical analysis is based on a unique dataset combining comparable items from two representative surveys covering Germany ( N = 2112) and the Czech Republic ( N = 1000) with economic and demographic characteristics of relevant regional contexts in both countries (167 constituencies in Germany and 77 districts in the Czech Republic). Using multilevel regression models, the article shows that individual-level characteristics do not alone drive populist attitudes. In contrast, the results show that living in peripheral areas of the Czech Republic and eastern Germany increases the likelihood of having populist attitudes. These peripheries are characterized by unfavourable economic conditions in the Czech Republic and demographic decline in eastern Germany.

The curse of coal or peripherality? Energy transitions and the socioeconomic transformation of Czech coal mining and post-mining regions

“…In the sample of coal mining and post-mining districts, also peripherality proved to be significant determinant of populist support. Dvořák et al (2022) suggest that regional peripheralisation processes are a key contextual condition driving populist attitudes, especially in post-communist settings. The results of their analysis (based on data from the Czech Republic and Eastern Germany) indicate that while individual-level characteristics do not alone drive populist attitudes, living in peripheral areas (which are characterised by unfavourable economic conditions and demographic decline) increases the likelihood of having populist attitudes.…”

Introduction to the Special Section ‘EU Citizenship in Peripheral Regions: Collective Identities and Political Participation in Eastern Central and Western Europe’

“…Regional divisions can be described in terms of differences between centres and peripheries (Musil -Müller 2008;Noguera -Copus 2016;Dvořák -Zouhar -Treib 2022;Rodríguez -Pose 2018). Peripheries are considered as regional entities that are decoupled from developments in national or transnational centres either by a lack of spatial accessibility, weak infrastructure and economy, discrimination or exclusion from political decision making.…”