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The Rise of the Far Right in Spain and Portugal
  • ISSN: 1364-971X
  • E-ISSN: 1758-9150

Abstract

Far-right movements are gaining political prominence across Europe. Do they represent a resurgence of early twentieth-century autocratic regimes, or are they a new phenomenon? The Iberian Peninsula offers a unique opportunity for analysis, with Spain and Portugal transitioning from dictatorships in the 1930s to democracies in the 1970s, and illiberal movements re-entering political institutions in the 2010s. To explore this evolution, this article employs an interdisciplinary approach, combining the analytical strength of history with the practical advantages of computational methods. The analysis reveals that Vox emerged as a reaction to a perceived breakdown of the transition agreements and is driven by a commitment to an exclusionary nationalism resembling that of the Francoist regime. This contrasts sharply with Chega’s lack of connection to Salazarism and its focus on contemporary politics. However, both parties share a common agenda with the global far-right movement on secular issues, particularly in restricting political rights for women and LGBTQI+ identities. The article highlights the importance of considering the historical development of the political system when examining emerging phenomena. It also uses a computational institutionalist approach that could assist other scholars in assessing current political trends.

Resumo

Os movimentos de extrema-direita estão a ganhar protagonismo político em toda a Europa. Representam eles um ressurgimento dos regimes autocráticos do início do século XX ou são um fenómeno novo? A Península Ibérica oferece uma oportunidade única de análise, com Espanha e Portugal a transitarem de ditaduras na década de 1930 para democracias na década de 1970, e com movimentos iliberais a reentrarem nas instituições políticas na década de 2010. Para explorar esta evolução, este artigo utiliza uma abordagem interdisciplinar, combinando a força analítica da história com as vantagens práticas dos métodos computacionais. A análise revela que o Vox surgiu como reação a uma perceção de rutura dos acordos de Transição e é impulsionado por um compromisso com um nacionalismo excludente semelhante ao do regime franquista. Este facto contrasta fortemente com a falta de ligação do Chega ao salazarismo e o seu enfoque na política contemporânea. No entanto, ambos os partidos partilham uma agenda comum com o movimento global de extrema-direita em questões seculares, particularmente na restrição dos direitos políticos das mulheres e das identidades LGBTQI+. O artigo sublinha a importância de considerar o desenvolvimento histórico do sistema político quando se analisam fenómenos emergentes. Utiliza também uma abordagem institucionalista computacional que poderá ajudar outros académicos a avaliar as tendências políticas actuais.

Resumen

Los movimientos de extrema derecha están ganando protagonismo político en toda Europa. ¿Representan un resurgimiento de los regímenes autocráticos de principios del siglo XX o son un fenómeno nuevo? La Península Ibérica ofrece una oportunidad única para el análisis, ya que España y Portugal pasaron de las dictaduras de los años treinta a las democracias de los setenta, y los movimientos antiliberales volvieron a entrar en las instituciones políticas en la década de 2010. Para explorar esta evolución, este artículo emplea un enfoque interdisciplinar, combinando la fuerza analítica de la historia con las ventajas prácticas de los métodos computacionales. El análisis revela que Vox surgió como reacción a una percibida ruptura de los acuerdos de la Transición, y está impulsado por un compromiso con un nacionalismo excluyente parecido al del régimen franquista. Esto contrasta fuertemente con la falta de conexión de Chega con el salazarismo y su enfoque en la política contemporánea. Sin embargo, ambos partidos comparten una agenda común con el movimiento global de extrema derecha en cuestiones seculares, particularmente en la restricción de los derechos políticos de las mujeres y las identidades LGBTQI+. El artículo destaca la importancia de considerar el desarrollo histórico del sistema político a la hora de examinar fenómenos emergentes. También utiliza un enfoque institucionalista computacional que podría ayudar a otros estudiosos a evaluar las tendencias políticas actuales.

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2025-01-20
2025-02-15
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