The Policy Positions of Eurosceptic Right-Wing Populist Parties: - A Comparative Case Study of the UK Independence Party and the Danish People's Party
Author
Nissen, Anita
Term
4. term
Publication year
2014
Submitted on
2014-05-30
Pages
96
Abstract
I kølvandet på finanskrisen i slutningen af 2000’erne er mange europæere blevet mere skeptiske over for EU. Dette studie undersøger, hvordan to højrepopulistiske partier—UK Independence Party (UKIP) og Dansk Folkeparti (DF)—formulerede deres syn på EU op til valget til Europa-Parlamentet i 2014. Metode: en rammeanalyse. I praksis betyder det, at studiet ser på, hvordan hvert parti definerer “hvad problemet er”, hvem der får skylden, hvilke løsninger de foreslår, og hvordan de opfordrer folk til at handle. Analysen bygger på Carol Bacchis tilgang “What is the Problem Represented to Be?” og Benford og Snows typologi af diagnostiske (problem), prognostiske (løsning) og motiverende (handlingsappel) rammer. Materialet består af partipapirer og mediedebatter i Danmark og Storbritannien fra januar til april 2014. Resultater: På trods af forskellige endemål argumenterer partierne på bemærkelsesværdigt ens måder. Begge bruger rammer om trusler mod national suverænitet, indvandring, økonomiske omkostninger, anti‑establishment og EU’s “demokratiske underskud” (oplevet afstand til vælgerne og svag repræsentation). De afviser tættere EU‑integration og ideen om et “Europas Forenede Stater” og fremstiller EU som for indgribende i national politik og utilstrækkeligt demokratisk. Begge hævder, at EU‑indvandring medfører økonomiske byrder og presser lønninger og levevilkår. Deres løsninger er forskellige: UKIP vil forlade EU for at genvinde kontrol over grænser og indføre et arbejdstilladelsessystem; DF ønsker at blive i et “flerhastigheds‑EU”, søge et velfærdsforbehold og genindføre grænsekontrol for at dæmme op for grænseoverskridende kriminalitet. Begge kritiserer nationale eliter for at nedtone virkningerne af EU‑indvandring; derudover fremhæver UKIP sociale skel i Storbritannien og mener, at EU’s politikker favoriserer stor erhvervsliv. Bidrag: Studiet tydeliggør, hvordan euroskeptiske højrepopulister rammesætter EU, og viser, at deres kernebekymringer i høj grad overlapper, selv om de forestiller sig forskellige fremtider for deres landes forhold til EU.
In the wake of the late‑2000s financial crisis, many Europeans have grown more skeptical of the EU. This study examines how two right‑wing populist parties—the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the Danish People’s Party (DPP)—presented their positions on the EU in the run‑up to the 2014 European Parliament election. Method: a framing analysis. In simple terms, the study looks at how each party defines “what the problem is,” who is to blame, what solutions they propose, and how they urge people to act. It draws on Carol Bacchi’s “What is the Problem Represented to Be?” approach and Benford and Snow’s typology of diagnostic (problem), prognostic (solution), and motivational (call to action) frames. The material includes party documents and media debates in Denmark and the UK from January to April 2014. Findings: Despite different end goals, the parties argue in strikingly similar ways. Both use frames about threats to national sovereignty, immigration, economic costs, anti‑establishment sentiments, and the EU’s “democratic deficit” (a perceived distance from voters and weak representation). They reject deeper EU integration and the idea of a “United States of Europe,” portraying the EU as too intrusive in domestic policy and insufficiently democratic. Both claim EU immigration imposes economic burdens and pressures wages and living standards. Their solutions diverge: UKIP advocates leaving the EU to regain control of borders and introduce a work‑permit system; DPP favors staying in a “multi‑speed” EU, seeking a welfare policy opt‑out and reintroducing border checks to curb cross‑border crime. Both criticize national elites for downplaying the effects of EU immigration; additionally, UKIP highlights social divides in the UK and argues that EU policies favor big business. Contribution: The study clarifies how eurosceptic right‑wing populists frame the EU and shows that their core concerns overlap strongly, even though they envision different futures for their countries’ relationship with the EU.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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