Democratic liberalism, anti-populism and cultures of opposition to populist parties in Europe

This article examines populist challenges to democracy and liberalism in contemporary Europe through the eyes of populist opponents. It does not assume that populist parties necessarily threaten liberal democracy but shows that for many fear of this threat is a mobilizing force. Content analysis of data on justifications of initiatives opposing populist parties in Hungary, Poland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, and Denmark examines the prevalence of opposition frames defining Populism as Democratic Illiberalism or as a Threat to Liberal Democracy, and demonizing, delegitimizing Anti-Populist frames. Despite variation among the cases, the Populism as Democratic Illiberalism and Anti-Populist opposition frames were more prevalent than the Populism as Threat to Liberal Democracy frame. Explanations for the prevalence of the Democratic Illiberalism frame were populist success in hybrid democracies, and for the prevalence of the Anti-Populist frame was ideological illiberalism and the polarizing practice of cooperation with populist parties in government.