Blurring lines : Economic equality and equal rights concepts of center- and far-right parties, 1970–2020

Abstract

Based on new data, we assess rival claims about right parties and equality. We show that the Far Right and the Center Right have become alike regarding their positions on economic equality and equal rights. Based on crowdcoding of party manifestos, we map the equality trajectories of 69 right-wing parties in 12 OECD countries from 1970 to 2020. Following a discussion of the diverging ideological and electoral incentives of center- and far-right parties, we map the egalitarian profiles of center- and far-right parties over 50 years. Then, we conduct a multivariate analysis of trends at the party level. We find that center-right parties have been reluctant to address high inequality and demands for equal rights, while many far-right parties have surpassed them in promoting economic equality and even support for equal rights. As an important qualification, we show that far-right parties support equal rights often in abstracto; without specifying groups.