Far-Right Extremism and Populist Rhetoric: Greece and Cyprus during an Era of Crisis

Abstract

Research has highlighted a strong association between far-right parties and populism, although this is often taken as concerning the softer radical right rather than fully fledged extremism. Further, there is limited analysis on how far-right parties in different countries employ populist rhetoric. In order to explore the relationship between the extreme right and populism, this article conceptualises and categorises the populism of the Greek GD (Χρυσή Αυγή—Golden Dawn), and that of its Cypriot sister party ELAM (Εθνικό Λαϊκό Μέτωπο—National Popular Front), on the basis of a content analysis of press releases. First, existing theses about the relationship between the far right and populism are qualified, illustrating how extreme right parties (including the most extreme among them) utilise populist rhetoric. Second, patterns and variations in populist rhetoric are identified between extreme right parties based on context.