Public Service Deprivation and the Rise of Populism in Europe

This talk examines how public service deprivation fuels the rise of far-right parties in contemporary Europe. The main thesis advanced in the talk is that reduced access to essential public services, coined public service deprivation, helps explain why certain regions become strongholds of far-right and populist support. Drawing on evidence from multiple European countries, I show that areas affected by long-term disinvestment in public services and infrastructure are more prone to political discontent and populist support. This talk offers novel insights into how spatial inequality and state retreat shape the electoral geography of the populist right in Europe today.