Examining the rise of the far-right in Estonia

What is it about?

This article looks at why Estonia's Conservative People's Party (EKRE), a far-right political group, gained substantial support in 2020 parliamentary elections. It focuses on both short-term and long-term reasons for their popularity. It also compares this party's rise to similar movements across Europe. The article argues that the immediate reasons for EKRE's rise have to do with the 2008 economic crisis and how it was handled. The economic crisis led to stricter financial rules in Europe and changed how the Estonian government got involved in the economy. This made it easier for far-right ideas to spread and made people trust mainstream political parties less. The article also talks about other reasons for EKRE's popularity. For example, it looks at how some people in Estonia feel left out by the changes that happened after communism ended. It also explores how EKRE has a mixed relationship with neoliberalism. The party's supporters come from different backgrounds, including working-class people, poor retirees, young people, and those who are frustrated with how things are going.

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Photo by Ilya Orehov on Unsplash

Photo by Ilya Orehov on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This paper is one of the few attempts to explain the reasons behind far-right's electoral success in Estonia.