r/science • u/smurfyjenkins • 1d ago

Social Science Across 24 developed democracies, there is a systematic pattern whereby economic crises tend to disproportionately favor the right. Even when center-right parties preside over a crisis, voters often drift further rightward to nationalist parties rather than defect to the left.

https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.70008
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u/cerevant 1d ago

Not really surprising. When times are tough, people worry less about being kind to others and become necessarily more selfish. They are also frustrated and angry about things they cannot control. The right gives them targets for their anger, and gives them the illusion of control.

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u/Rahm_Marek 1d ago

They give them an enemy to focus on.

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u/Ephemerror 1d ago

This is true, however it's also true for the left too. While the right promotes xenophobia and targets the already marginalised and powerless, the left targets the wealthy and powerful; or they should theoretically be at least.