Christianity’s Influence on Populist Radical Right Politics as Strategy and Style
Abstract
The western populist radical right has turned culture oriented. With this comes an increased focus on religion, particularly Christianity. Previous studies tend to see the relationship between the populist radical right and Christian theology as a case of hijacking where religion is abused. This review article takes another perspective and analyses the relationship between Christian theology and practice on the one hand, and the populist radical right politics as strategy and style in governance. The analysis centres around five interlinked core traits of nasty politics. It is found that the strategies and styles applied by populist radical right leaders and parties in Europe as well as the US, as manifested in the core traits, are well established in Christian theology and practice. Power over thought, dualistic polarisation and persuasion are found more generally in different mainstream Christian theologies and practices. Punishment and disruption are less articulated in mainstream Christianity but are central in American evangelical Christianity. The study adds new knowledge, first from its focus on politics as strategy and style rather than politics as ideology, second from its identification of Christian influence not only within a country, but from other countries and continents through an international networked movement.
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