How Does the Next Generation of Radical Right Populist Leaders Understand Democracy? Evidence from a Vignette-Based Interview Project with Party Youth Leaders from Germany and Austria

The political success of populist radical right parties has cast the spotlight on their impact on democracy. The ideology underlying populist radical right parties is seen as challenging fundamental principles and norms of liberal and representative democracy. Yet, we still know little about the specific ideas that populist radical right party leaders and members hold about democracy. As politicians are also the main drivers in creating and communicating certain narratives and goals in democratic society, it is important to know what politicians actually think about democracy. Among these, the conception of democracy held by the leaders of the youth organization of radical right populist parties are especially revenant as they represent the future leaders and the party’s next generation. This proposed research paper therefore asks the following questions: What is the conception of democracy of the leaders of right-wing populist youth organizations and to what extent do they deviate from the normative ideal of liberal and representative democracy? In order to capture politicians’ understanding of democracy, the paper draws on an innovative method employing a vignette technique embedded in qualitative expert interviews. Thus, the proposed paper will rely on data gained from interviewing the leaders and executive members of the radical right populist youth organizations in Austria (Ring Freiheitlicher Jugend/RFJ) and Germany (Junge Alternative/JA) about their understanding of democracy. Using standard definitions of populism and nativism, the paper attempts to answer the question of whether or not a specific populist-nativist understanding of democracy is present in the positions held by the interviewed representatives of RFJ and JA.