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How has populism disrupted the
left-right divide in Western
Europe?
Richard Wike
Director, Global Attitudes Research

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Pew Research Center
• Established 1996
• Funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, foundations
• Non-profit, non-partisan fact tank in Washington
• Since 2002, we have surveyed in 109 countries
• www.pewresearch.org

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Methodology
• Survey conducted across 8 European countries from October 30 to
December 20, 2017
• 16,114 total respondents
• Based on telephone interviews with nationally representative samples of
adults 18 and older
• The margin of sampling error for the completed set of weighted data is
±2.6% - ±2.9%

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Global Insights Fall 2017 Survey

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IDEOLOGY AND POPULISM
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Six Key Groups
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Groups based on left-right ideology and support for populist views

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Distribution of Groups by Country
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.
Adults who are populist and mainstream on the left, center and right

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Distribution of Groups by Country
Adults who are populist and mainstream on the left, center and right
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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THE ECONOMY
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Very Different Economic Assessments in Western Europe
The current economic situation in our country is …
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.
10%
11
13
14
56
64
71
82
35
87%
87
86
85
41
33
28
17
63
Sweden
Denmark
Netherlands
Germany
UK
France
Spain
Italy
MEDIAN
GoodBad

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Populist Groups Less Positive About the Economy
The current economic situation in our country is good
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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Most Support Government Economic Assistance
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.
22%
29
40
38
42
37
45
57
39
74%
63
58
55
54
53
49
35
55
Italy
Spain
Netherlands
France
Denmark
Sweden
UK
Germany
MEDIAN
Individual's responsibility Government’s responsibility
It is the individual’s responsibility to earn a decent standard of living OR it is the government’s responsibility
to ensure a decent standard of living for all?

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Ideological Divides on Government Providing Standard of Living
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure a decent standard of living for all
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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VIEWS OF INSTITUTIONS
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Majorities in Just Three Countries Trust Parliament
Adults who __ parliament
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.
28%
31
43
49
62
62
82
84
56
71%
68
55
50
36
33
16
16
43
Sweden
Netherlands
Germany
Denmark
UK
France
Italy
Spain
MEDIAN
TrustDistrust

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People with Populist Views Trust Parliament Less
Adults who trust parliament
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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European Publics Split on Trustworthiness of Banks
Adults who __ banks and financial institutions
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.
35%
37
44
46
46
60
71
82
46
65%
62
56
54
52
39
29
18
53
Netherlands
Sweden
Denmark
UK
Germany
France
Italy
Spain
MEDIAN
TrustDistrust

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Those With Populist Views Trust Banks Less
Adults who trust banks and financial institutions
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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Distrust of News Media Common in Many Nations
Adults who __ the news media
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.
32%
34
36
52
64
67
69
71
58
67%
64
64
47
35
32
31
29
41
Netherlands
Sweden
Germany
Denmark
France
UK
Spain
Italy
MEDIAN
TrustDistrust

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Mainstream Groups More Likely to Trust News Media
Adults who trust the news media
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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July 26, 2018 21
Most Say EU Membership Has Been Good for Their Economy
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.
17%
19
24
26
22
31
35
48
25
76%
76
72
69
63
62
55
46
66
Germany
Denmark
Netherlands
Spain
Sweden
UK
France
Italy
MEDIAN
Good thingBad thing
EU membership has been a ___ for our country’s economy

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July 26, 2018 22
Those with Populist Views Less Likely to Say EU Helps Economy
Membership in the EU has been a good thing for our country’s economy
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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IMMIGRATION
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Do Immigrants Increase Terror Risk?
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.
Immigrants __ the risk of terrorist attacks in our country
42%
46
52
49
54
55
61
58
53
51%
50
44
43
43
38
34
33
43
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Sweden
Denmark
UK
Spain
France
MEDIAN
IncreaseDo not increase

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Right Populists Most Concerned about Immigration and Terrorism
Immigrants increase the risk of terrorist attacks in our country
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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RATING POLITICAL PARTIES
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Relatively Low Ratings for Populist Parties
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.
Favorable view of…

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Relatively Low Ratings for Populist Parties
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Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.
Favorable view of…

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Right Populist Parties Get Highest Ratings from Right Populists
Adults with favorable views of …
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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Left Populists Most Favorable of Left Populist Parties
Adults with favorable views of …
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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Populist Groups View Italy’s Five Star More Positively
Adults with favorable views of Five Star Movement
Source: Survey of eight Western European countries conducted Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2017.

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DIRECT DEMOCRACY
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Those Who Favor Populist Parties View Direct Democracy Positively
A democratic system where citizens, not elected officials, vote directly on major national issues to decide what
becomes law would be a good way of governing our country
Note: Only statistically significant differences shown.
Source: Spring 2017 Global Attitudes Survey.
Among those with a/an …

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All Pew Research Center reports are available
online at www.pewresearch.org
Richard Wike
Director, Global Attitudes Research
@RichardWike