Populism, EU institutions and civil society

Abstract

This chapter focuses on how the “populist turn” of recent years has affected EU institutions and the non-state actors which interact with them. It argues that in the broader context of the legacy of the 2008 financial crisis, the success of populist parties and movements has affected the composition, agendas, and political culture of European institutional actors and has then been negatively reflected in the prospects of the non-state actors that interact with them, their funding opportunities and strategies. It argues that as a consequence of the impact of populist formations, a fragmented reaction has occurred in each of the institutional domains considered—the European Commission, the Parliament, and civil society organizations. In particular, the success of populist forces in several member states and at EU level has specifically affected inclusionary antidiscrimination organizations. Changes have occurred in their perceptions of legitimacy and general political opportunities, and in the structure of their networks, which increasingly divide between a pro-EU and an anti-EU component.