Youth Wings Power the Rise of Europe’s Populist Radical Right
Former youth‑wing leaders now dominate the continent’s most successful far‑right parties, reshaping Europe’s political landscape.
From Youth Activism to National Leadership
Across western Europe, the most successful populist radical right parties share a striking commonality: their current leaders once headed the parties’ youth wings. Italy’s Matteo Salvini, France’s Jordan Bardella, Sweden’s Jimmie Åkesson and Belgium’s Tom Van Grieken all rose through these “incubation chambers.” Even Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, a former youth‑wing activist, credits that experience for her personal and political development.
“Even more than my growth as a politician, I owe my growth as a person and as an Italian to my youth‑wing activism,” Meloni said, underscoring the formative power of these groups.
What the New Research Reveals
In their book Youth Wings of the Populist Radical Right, scholars Cas Mudde and Duncan McDonnell examined ten youth organisations from Austria to France. They found that these wings not only recruit and train future cadres but also supply campaign labour, run local branches and influence policy today.
Three Strategic Goals
Internationalisation – Youth leaders convene at events such as the Transatlantic Patriot Summit in Budapest (held annually since 2022), forging ties with peers from Europe, India, Israel, Latin America and the United States. They view these networks as assets for future governmental roles.
Professionalisation – Once dismissed as amateurs, the radical right now invests heavily in training. Young members learn policy, history, rhetoric and media communication, preparing them for political careers.
Normalisation – By attracting university‑educated youths who differ from the stereotypical angry far‑right image, the parties present more articulate and presentable leaders, distancing themselves from figures like Jean‑Marie Le Pen and Umberto Bossi.
Polished Image, Unchanged Ideology
Despite the sleek public presentation, the interviewed youth activists insist they will not steer their parties toward moderation. The core nationalist, exclusionary message remains intact, making the regenerated radical right an even more formidable challenge to liberal democracy.
How Mainstream Parties Might Respond
One suggestion is for established parties to stop treating the radical right solely as a problem and instead scrutinise their own youth structures. Recent studies show that centre‑left and centre‑right youth groups are dominated by men, political families and careerists.
Addressing the material concerns of young Europeans—such as insecure employment and the housing crisis—could also help. Many young people now live with parents into their late twenties or early thirties, eroding confidence in traditional parties. The radical right’s clear messaging on these issues appears to resonate, a tactic mainstream parties should emulate.
Authors’ Credentials
Cas Mudde is the Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia and author of The Far Right Today. Duncan McDonnell is a professor of politics at the Jeff Bleich Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
Understanding the pivotal role of youth wings offers a window into the future trajectory of Europe’s populist surge.
