United in Diversity: A Comparative Analysis of the Voting Behaviours of European Far-Right Political Parties in the European Parliament between 2009-2014

Pınar Sayan

doi:10.22151/politikon.35.4

Authors

Pınar Sayan Marmara University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.35.4

Keywords:

European far-right parties, European parliament, party cohesion, party politics, voting behaviour

Abstract

While the rise of European far-right raises many questions, this article aims to contribute to the debate by looking at their voting behaviour in the European Parliament between 2009 and 2014. Although some of the most prominent European far-right parties try to emphasize their differences, this article shows how united they actually are on salient issues. This can be seen from their voting cohesion on economic and monetary affairs and immigration, but also their party programs, election manifestos, parliamentary speeches, statements and media coverage. The article concludes that far-right parties have similar voting preferences on the most salient issues, while existing deviations are mostly caused by country-specific reasons.

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Author Biography

Pınar Sayan, Marmara University

Pinar Sayan, 32, from İstanbul (Turkey) obtained her PhD on the European Union Politics and International Relations from Marmara University. She holds MS degree on Comparative Politics from London School of Economics; MA degree on Political Science and International Relations from Bogazici University; and BA degree on Political Science and International Relations from Marmara University. She is the country director of the Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation in Turkey and the co-founder of Roman Medya. Her focus is the rights dimension of ethnic politics especially in Europe and Turkey.