Exploring mainstream Euroscepticism: Similarities and differences between Eurosceptic claims of centre-right and radical right parties

Abstract

Euroscepticism has traditionally occurred among radical left and radical right parties. But opposition to European integration has recently also spread to the political mainstream, especially to centre-right parties. Yet, we know comparatively little about the nature of Eurosceptic claims made by these parties. Do they rely on the same repertoire as radical parties, or do they develop their own specific versions of Euroscepticism? A comparative content analysis of Eurosceptic claims in the 2014 and 2019 European election manifestos of centre-right and radical right parties in Austria, France, Germany and the Netherlands shows that centre-right parties do not draw to a significant extent on the existing discourse of radical right parties. Instead, they predominantly create their own Eurosceptic claims, which are tailor-made to their entrenched programmatic brands. These findings resonate well with the assumptions of saliency approaches to party competition.