Beyond the ‘bad guys’ : unpacking populism, climate skepticism, and climate policy in right-wing party manifestos

Abstract

This study critically examines the relationship between right-wing populism and climate policy, challenging prevailing assumptions and exploring the complexities of this interplay. Through quantitative and qualitative content analysis of political party manifestos, the study investigates the correlation between populist rhetoric, ideological positioning, climate skepticism, and opposition to climate policies among right-wing parties. The assessment of four democracies (United States, Germany, Australia, and Austria) indicates that, contrary to popular belief, right-wing political parties do not consistently employ more populist language than their left-wing counterparts. Moreover, the findings demonstrate a complex relationship between adopting of climate skeptic discourse and opposition to climate policy. While certain right-wing political parties exhibit strong resistance to ambitious climate policies, the research uncovers a nuanced relationship that transcends a simplistic portrayal of “the climate bad guys”.